There’s always that moment, usually sometime in mid-February, that I throw my hands in the air and give up.  “Spring will never officially arrive” I exclaim to anyone who might be listening.  It doesn’t matter that I’ve seen it’s arrival and departure 30 times now.  It doesn’t matter that the days are getting longer.  And it doesn’t matter that, generally speaking, the worst is behind us.  I generally just give up and start believing I will have to start living the life of that notorious groundhog; if you were forced to live without the benefit of sunshine you’d most likely be the bearer of bad news as well!

It’s only after I bother to flip through my calendar that I realize there’s only a few weeks until our annual trip to the horse races.  

Host Springs Image Credit: Boston Public Library via Flickr

And I feel my eyes grow large with the realization.
And the butterflies in my stomach migrate back from wherever is was that they were hiding since before the holiday season.
And for the first time in several dark weeks, I realize that Spring really may come. 

I remind my husband and he reminds our mutual friends.  We force ourself to be nonchalant about it.  We make the same reservation in the same room of the same bed and breakfast and the same reservations that we made last year and the year before.  We whisper about the weather forecast, knowing that if we dare to speak in normal tones we will jinx our chances of enjoying our first chance of pink skin this early in the year.  

And it’s in those mid weeks when the world is gradually growing lighter and warmer and even occasionally dusted by the occasional snow that we realize that our repeated actions from years past that have grown into the sweet traditions that quite literally add sunshine and warmth to our lives.

I highly recommend adding an element of tradition to your travels whenever you can.

What are some ways that you have added tradition to your travel?

Paige is a creative, a blogger, and a believer in the power of community and red lipstick.  Check her out at http://www.approachingjoy.com/ or on social media @approaching_joy.