According to a Gallup poll, only 3% of Americans like the month of March.
When rainy March finally rolls around, many people gripe and groan about the mud, the clouds, and the storms. February was a slushy drag, and now March is warmer, but it’s not warm enough to wear shorts and a t-shirt, and tennis shoes are left sloppy. The air is humid from the frequent rain, and cars’ windshields are smeared by sudden downpours.
It sounds like a pretty gloomy mess, all in all. I can’t fault anyone for thinking so, because all of it is true.
However, I love March. Not to pull the “I’m not like other girls” card, but I’ve always liked a good dreary day much better than the blinding sun. When the skies darken, it makes the world feel like it has a ceiling: it’s one big bedroom, lit by strings of homes like lanterns.
But for those of us who don’t like March (and I’ll admit, it has its ups and downs), how do we make the best of this month, which seems to drag forever with its 31 days? Here’s a couple reasons why March is actually a fantastic time of the year.
CHANGING TEMPERATURES
Despite its reputation for being a little “bipolar”, March’s changing temperatures mean it can basically be the best of both worlds for many people.
For those who like the cold days, early March – and sometimes spots in the later half of it – offer cool breezes and clouds that keep the sun from beating down on you.
Warmer days offer sunshine and a little more heat, but usually not enough to the point where it feels like you’re sweating your skin off or walking through soup. It might be a little muggy, but it’s more like the tip of the iceberg rather than a thousand meters under.
OUTFIT DIVERSITY
In the same vein, March having a wide variety of different temperatures allow for a wide variety of outfits, as well – for folks who care about fashion, it’s an excuse to exhaust every piece in their wardrobe, giving equal attention to dressing for all seasons. I personally appreciate this, because by this point I’m tired of having to wear turtlenecks no matter how much I love them, and sometimes being able to wear a skirt and t-shirt is really nice.
I like having differences in my outfits, and unfortunately summer is too hot and winter is too cold for me to wear anything except basketball shorts or puffy coats. That’s why I like the ups and downs of this month!
GROWING GARDENS
Around this time is also when gardens begin to bloom, and I always really love seeing the results of the care people put into their flowerbeds.
When my family used to have a garden, daffodils and bluebells sprung up right around my birthday, followed by tulips and poppies. There’s so many different flowers that can be seen, and they all bring a lot of brightness to the usual dreariness of fading winter.
Gardens bring the added bonus of new sights like butterflies and rabbits. I remember watching blues and yellows drift around my yard, and I used to try and find rabbits crouching in the underbrush. Sometimes there’s a squirrel or two emerging from their hibernation. I think the world begins to come to life again during this month, and it’s very interesting to see!
LIFE RESET
Since March brings with it the arrival of spring, it’s a big month for things like spring cleaning and getting lives back on track. It’s honestly a dollar-store version of New Year’s Resolutions, but there’s way less pressure because we’re already part of the way through the year. If you’ve gotten tired of being a pack rat over the winter, now is the perfect time to get things done!
For students especially, Spring Break offers a great opportunity to do some deep cleaning. I know we all want to relax on our break, but hey, maybe cleaning is relaxing for some of us.
SPRING BREAK
Speaking of Spring Break, that’s another plus to this month! Having a whole week to decompress in the middle of the month isn’t something you get every day, and since the second semester is often a crunch, I think we could all use some rest. I don’t know about you, but I always look forward to doing nothing after having every assignment ever dog-piled onto me.
Although March may not be the brightest month of the year, I hope there is something in it that you look forward to. And if not, stay tuned: this year is just getting started!
