Springing Forward Successfully

by LaShawna Fant

From the Editor: Dr. Fant, our Mississippi affiliate president, has contributed to these pages several times, usually to introduce us to someone that we should come to know. In this brief article, she reflects on how the promise of renewal that comes in spring can help us to renew our hearts, reorganize our minds, and recommit to our movement. Here are her thoughts:

Spring is a season that hatches and hops forward in the last part of March. During this season, people spring-clean by decluttering and organizing items in their homes and spaces. Without fail, many time zones move their clocks forward, which provides more time to enjoy the sunlight in the evening. Hedgehogs and chipmunks even emerge and play after hibernating through the winter. Some flowers sprout, like honeysuckle, lavender, gardenias, and yellow daffodils, displaying their floral patterns across Earth ’s landscape. Buzzing bees become active and attracted to the sweet nectar found in flowers. The cheerful chirps of birds resound as they return and sing. During this season, as life awakens and leaps towards warmer weather, it is fruitful for us to view various areas of our lives to ensure we are springing forward successfully. I hope you find it helpful to examine the list of areas below to escort you in blossoming in the next three quarters of this year:

Determination is defined as firmness of purpose. In our movement, determination is instrumental in staying grounded and maintaining focus.

Integrity encompasses being upright in character and actions. Outfitting ourselves with integrity aids in always doing what is right no matter who is watching us.

Dedication is planted in our commitment to a task or purpose. Some link the words zeal, single-mindedness, and wholeheartedness to this trait. When considering the transformative work that our organization is achieving, it is highly supportive to remain dedicated to our mission.

The term organization can be neatly placed in compartments labeled for planning, preparing, arranging, putting in order, and sorting through. These systematic actions will assist us in strolling into this season with tidy ambitions and goals.

Love is expressed by delighting in and having affection for something. Possessing a love for our membership, the work we are doing to assist blind people, and enjoying and having a strong fondness for our cause provides light to the path of many.

Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes. This desire is critical in helping us keep our heads high while looking forward to more equitable and brighter opportunities for blind individuals.

The word together entails us being in close association and united in goals. As we spring forward successfully, it is profitable to remain of one accord as we traverse into our local neighborhoods and advance the lives of our members and all blind people in the United States.