Sunshine Awakens the Soul 

The brilliance of a bright blue sky over the Chicago skyline after months of dreary, overcast grey. The simple sensation of warmth on your face as you walk down Michigan Avenue, spent winter greens cover the first hints of spring bulbs. The steam rising from an artistically crafted cappuccino at a cozy café in Lincoln Park, and the open canvas of time to savor every sip. The easy joys brought by the magic of March in the Midwest. A sincere, hesitant hopefulness that rises with the more frequent glimpses of sunshine over Lake Michigan. 

Don’t get me wrong—winter is a beautiful season. But even I get sick of layering up, bracing against the wind off the lake, and dodging patches of ice on the sidewalks of the Loop when February just won’t let go. And even when it does—even when we’ve had those teasingly warm days in late winter that melt the snow just enough to trick us—there’s something undeniably different about the first truly sunny day in March. 

Chicago, for all its grit, feels a little softer. The city seems to breathe, stretching after months of hibernation. People walking along the Riverwalk or through Millennium Park smile just a little more. Strangers seem friendlier than they were yesterday. It feels like a collective exhale, like shedding a weight you didn’t even realize you were carrying. 

Sure, we know better than to put away our winter coats just yet. Snow in March—or even April—is practically a Chicago tradition. Our plows and salters will probably make another appearance before we can fully claim spring. But after at least a hundred days of bundling up, the promise of warmth feels real. You can almost believe there are more mild days ahead than bitterly cold ones. 

It’s a glimmer of hope. A sliver of light reflecting off the skyline at golden hour, refusing to be swallowed by the shadows. A foothold on solid ground when the weight of the world threatens to pull us under. And in these unpredictable times, we could all use a few more footholds. A few more reasons to believe in the balance of things. 

There are many ways to see the world and the daily life that fills it. 

The sun is shining over the Chicago River, but tomorrow it might be grey again. This morning is calm, but my afternoon is packed with meetings and obligations. The air smells like thawing earth, like spring, but the world is heavy with uncertainty. It’s easy to focus on the chaos, to feel overwhelmed by the mess of it all. 

Or—there’s another way to see it. 

Tomorrow might bring the cold back, but today, the sun is out. This afternoon will be busy, but I have this quiet morning to myself. The world is heavy, yes—but right now, the air carries the first real promise of spring, and that is something too. 

Life is messy. Chicago weather is unpredictable. But today is the first sunny day in March, and that feels like something special. For now, lets focus on Tulips and Daffodils poking their head out from warming soil, buds swelling on flowering trees, and the sweet aroma of freshly mulched beds.