Dear Spring, I have been waiting…
The beginning of 2025 was quite hard. I had little motivation to read or pursue any of my usual hobbies. It felt as though the fun part of my soul had shut down for the winter, quietly waiting for spring to arrive. People often say winter is the best time to curl up with a good book—and it is! But what we don’t often talk about is seasonal depression, or the so-called “winter blues.”
It’s only now, in March—at the start of spring—that I’m beginning to feel a renewed energy and a spark of inspiration to read and create again. I suppose that’s the gift of spring: the sense that what was once dormant is slowly returning to life. There’s something about that gentle breeze just before dawn, after enduring the long, cold night. I know—it sounds a little dramatic. But this spring has felt different. With this new season and this sense of awakening, I want to take a new direction with this blog. I’ll be sharing more personal reflections—letters, almost—on life, faith, history, travel, human rights, and, of course, the books I’m reading. Rather than focusing on productivity (something the world often demands of us), I want to embrace creative freedom.
Speaking of reading, I finally finished a book in March (on the very last day, in fact). I was powering through it, and it was worth every moment. I’ve mentioned it on the blog before—All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. It took me a while to get through, but I’m so glad I stayed with it. If you haven’t read it, the story follows several characters during World War II, set against the haunting backdrop of Saint-Malo. What struck me most was how the book explores character growth beyond the war and how trauma ripples through relationships in the years that follow.
It reminded me of a book I read back in autumn—The Silence in Between by Josie Ferguson. Both authors masterfully captured human emotion and explored themes of love, hope, family, and the enduring strength of humanity. I highly recommend both.
In the spirit of the new season, I’m hoping to dive into Four Seasons in Japan by Nick Bradley. Recently, I’ve been getting into Japanese literature. I read Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa and enjoyed it. I believe this is the time of year when cherry blossoms bloom across Japan, symbolizing renewal most beautifully. Even where I live, the trees are blooming with such beauty that I can’t stop taking photos. I always seem to smile at these moments—a little gift from God.
On a final note, I hope that winter’s cold has truly passed for you too—and that you find something beautiful to look forward to this spring.
Until next time;
T
