It's hard to resist the call of the wild this time of year. The snow is dissolving, the sky is filling with sun and the intoxicating smell of fresh dirt is in the air. In spring, Mother Nature is a wily seductress, luring us outside after a long, groggy-eyed winter.
But before you give in to temptation and begin stuffing your sweaters in a storage box labeled "Never Again!," remember a little task called Spring Cleaning. Though the term conjures up images of all-day dusting marathons and endless raking, it means a lot more than that.
Take some time to clean out your house. Really go after those dust bunnies. While you're at it, sort through your closets - have some extra clothing you've outgrown? Bearly Used would appreciate donations. Any profits they get from selling your old outfits go directly to the Developmental Achievement Center, which assists and employs local people who otherwise might not get a chance.
Rustle around in your pantry. You probably have more canned and boxed items than you can count. Why not give yourself some extra storage space and donate some food to the Hubbard County Food Shelf? That macaroni and cheese you consider a space-waster is incredibly valuable to hungry families in the area.
Spring cleaning also applies to your purse or pocketbook. All winter, you've shoved gum wrappers, tissues and receipts in there, hoping the Wallet Fairy would magically take them away. Well, she hasn't. And, let's face it, she won't. So, when you sit down to dig through the detritus, dig out a few dollar bills to donate to your favorite charity. The little bit of cash you won't even miss will make a big difference to someone in need.
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Once your home and wallet are tidy, start to clean out your schedule. When it's cold outside, it's easy to busy yourself with countless meetings and tasks. But once Earth comes alive with spring, bow out of one or two of your "extremely important" obligations. Go for a bike ride with your kids, or make good on the promise you made to your dogs about that very long walk. And as long as you're taking some free time, consider volunteering. (Better yet - combine the two and volunteer to walk dogs at the Headwaters Animal Shelter.) Think about giving some of your valuable time to Park Rapids' older residents during the Community Day of Service, April 28 and 29. Not only will some leisure time or community service neaten up your day planner, it will rejuvenate your soul.
And of course, let's not forget the most obvious Spring Cleaning - one that we all notice but all avoid. The snow around town has dissolved to reveal food wrappers, plastic cups, grocery bags and even clothing, right where we carelessly dropped them several months ago. Take a few minutes and tidy up your yard, or your neighbor's yard, or your workplace's yard or even your street or neighborhood. That trash got there somehow, and it's not going away on its own.
Spring is a wonderful time of regrowth and new possibilities. But let's not forget the messes we've made during the winter. Make some time for spring cleaning, in whatever form - your house, your community and your spirit will thank you.
