Unusually Chipper

Today started out like any other day.  I showered, got dressed, ate breakfast, got my lunch together, dried my hair, brushed my teeth, and headed off to work in the usual fashion.  I sat down in my seat at the front desk, turned on my computer, checked my work email, and took care of the usual morning duties.  While sorting through some of the documents in the scan folder that needed to be filed, David walked in to the office.  I said what I thought was my usual morning greeting and then looked up to find David staring at me.  "You seem unusually chipper this morning," he said.

Somewhat bewildered by this, I brushed it off and proceeded to do my work.  Like every other day, I plugged my earphones into my computer, turned on Spotify, chose one of the playlists I've created for myself, then put an ear bud into my right ear, leaving one ear unhindered should someone ask me to do something or if the phone should ring.  After a few minutes, I realized I was swaying back and forth in my chair and snapping my fingers to the beat of Frank Sinatra's At Long Last Love.  Standing in front of the microwave, I was humming to myself while waiting for my food to heat up.  I walked down the hall to the server room with a little more spring in my step than normal.  David was right.  I was a little more chipper than usual.

What could account for this change?  I thought to myself, "Well, you are almost over a really bad cold.  The fact that you can breathe again would make anyone happy, right?"  While I was happy that I could take a deep breath in without doubling over in a coughing fit, I didn't think that was the reason I was unusually chipper.  I thought to myself, "It's Friday.  You can go home tonight and read a book or watch a movie late into the night and then sleep in tomorrow morning."  While the thought of a Friday night snuggled up on my bed reading topped off with a decent night's sleep sounded awesome albeit pathetic and anti-social, I didn't feel that this was the reason I was especially happy.

You know how they say people get depressed during the winter?  I've always thought that was kind of ridiculous.  How can the weather affect someone's mood?  Heck, people must be really emotionally unstable if they can't handle a few clouds in the sky.  Being the vain, prideful person that I am, I have always thought myself above such moodiness.  Well, as it turns out, a key part of the definition of being female is being moody and I, unfortunately, am not immune to this weakness.

With this realization came the answer to my question.  The reason I was unusually content today probably lies in the fact that as I was walking to the bus stop yesterday after work, I could smell the scent of the blossoms in the trees.  I looked into the distance and admired the contrast between the green of the rolling hills and the blue of the infinite sky.  I even welcomed the sound of the bees buzzing among the flowers as I walked along the pathway.

When I reached the bus stop, I struck up a friendly conversation with a total stranger.  I let a desperate-looking young mother go ahead of me in the check-out line at the grocery store.  I couldn't stop smiling as I walked to my apartment, watching the color of the sky change as the sun went down behind the hills.  Who knew the coming of spring could have such an impact on me? 

I have been sufficiently humbled.  I freely admit that I am yet another moody female :)