Instead of rushing through the world this season, take time to enjoy the energy that the change in weather brings

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Each spring, no matter how many springs we have experienced, we are surprised by the feeling that comes along with those first few weeks of warm sun and suddenly greening grass.

We spend all winter, whether it is a cold and snowy one like the one that has just passed or a relatively mild one, dreaming of the day when we can pull the barbecue out of the garage or finally get our hands into the rich dark earth of the back garden.

But what we always seem to forget about is the way we'll behave when spring finally hits. It begins with the children.

Elementary school teachers will tell you that the first few weeks of spring are some of the toughest for classroom discipline, with spring fever spreading faster than chicken pox.

Adults soon catch it, too.

You begin to see executive-types walking with a bounce in their step and their ties flung over one shoulder, and parents of young children pushing strollers outdoors with renewed zest now that they don't have to navigate through mounds of slush and ice.

Even when it rains in these first few weeks of spring, we are happy to see it, as though the rain is not just washing away the detritus of winter weather, but the last vestiges of the winter blues, as well.

All of this renewed interest in life in general leads to increased energy and creativity in the workplace.

The organizers of the Frye Festival have got the timing right for their lineup of creative workshops, performances and round-table discussions. But you don't have to be an artist, educator or book lover to be creative.

Spring in New Brunswick is a time for new ideas, and you can see them forming in almost every realm.

In the political arena, the upcoming municipal elections are creating lots of buzz, with candidates working hard to stand out from the crowd with their ideas for our communities.

Business owners and managers use springtime to dream up the best ways to attract those lucrative tourist dollars this summer, whether by planning special events or just planning a new outdoor deck.

This week, take up the challenge that this season is presenting to you.

Use the creative energy that is flowing through your town, village or city like the sap in the trees to come up with a new way of doing things, a new place to do them, or even just a renewed attitude toward the world around you.

Enjoy the benefits of spring.