When the sun shines bright in the pacific northwest us Washingtonians come out from our dungeons like a zombie chasing human flesh. It doesn’t rain as much as people think, but it IS grey a lot. I’ve come to love the grey skies, they add to the lush green scenery, but this winter was much too long for me.
I like to think I’m always butterflies and glitter, but this winter knocked me straight on my ass. I am more than ready for the sun to come back for the feel good vibes, but what I love most about this time of year is the way the sun hits the snowy mountain tops.
Instant happiness.
I’ve been soaking up my vitamin D with a couple hikes, and a handful of runs.
I’ve been moderately lazy lately, and by moderately I mean immensely. My running has taken place inside on my treadmill because it’s more convenient, but I spent the last week house sitting which forced me outside.
My house mate.
My outdoor runs have been invigorating, but they’ve also reminded me of a few things. First and foremost I don’t love running the way I used to. I enjoy running 3-6 miles on my own terms, but the last two times I’ve tried to sign up for a half marathon in an attempt to kick my fanny into shape have backfired.
I just don’t enjoy running longer distances on my own, and it’s time I accept that. Once every so often I’ll want to bust out an 8 miler, but that’s rare these days. Plus sometimes I would rather be doing things like hiking, biking or even just walking.
Lucky for me I get paid to walk 3x a week with that good lookin cow dog.
With all that said I look forward to more hikes and bike rides as the sun continues to fuel my cells with its power. I had planned to run a half marathon in Portland in two weeks, but my training has been inconsistent so I decided to run the 10k instead.
Best decision I made all week. I get to go to Portland, I get to run a distance I love, and I get to breath easy knowing I can run 6 miles no sweat. OK, a little bit of sweat. It’s true that when you try to force something you end up avoiding it. When running is forced and I don’t listen to my desires for other movement I end up skipping all together.
No bueno.
It feels good to honor thoughts and feelings. Our bodies have a unique way of letting us know what we need. The signals start quiet, but if you ignore them (like I tend to do) eventually they scream at you. I must work on listening for the quiet signals before they come at me like a howler monkey in heat.
On a less serious note school is great, work is the same, my need for a metal detector to find coins in the grass has increased, and I’ve finally bonded on a deeper level with my best friend. By swapping faces.
I’m just gonna leave that there…
Q: Did winter come in and steal your soul like it did mine?
Blissfulbritt 
91 thoughts on “Springtime Sunshine”
rootchopper
It seems every winter ends with the “will I ever get back into the swing of things” feeling. I feel like my bikes and my body will never get it together. Could it be this year that my body says “You are too old” ?
Then, a warm day comes. And another. And soon my legs and hips and back and shoulders and my bikes start to play nice with one and other.
So, no worries. The winter had its way with me but it is a thing of the past. I just rode my bike to the drug store. No winter clothes, just a chamois shirt and shorts. The breeze was in my hair. The sun felt warm on my face.
Every baseball team has an opening day. I guess our bodies and our minds do too.
Brittany
Your baseball analogy is perfect, I think I’m getting older because this was the first winter that sucked me dry. 🙈 I’ll know how to better prep next year. Thanks for sharing, great comment!
rootchopper
I moved to DC because I just couldn’t take the long winters up north. In New England, T. S. Eliot had it nailed: April is the cruelest month.
Brittany
So much truth. I don’t care for the winter, but I adore the PNW the rest of the year so I tough it out.
rootchopper
I have never been to the PNW. Fail. Even have a high school classmate who lives on Camano Island.
Finding Flow
Hi Brittany,
Nice blog you’ve written! It’s so funny, my blog ‘move your ass’ had exactly the same ideas. I love spring time and running as well. The sun shining makes me happy, so does moving. I tend to ignore the signals as well which forces me into taking a step back. But once you do take a step back, you create space for new things! Enjoy spring time! Andrea
Brittany
I’m getting there, slowly but surely. The hardest signal to listen too: giving up coffee. Oh the horror.
Georgina @ Eat Laugh Craft
100% agree on the soul sucking-ness. I crave summer or at least higher than 60 degree weather. Saturday it snowed here, Sunday it was 73, and today is high of 40 with slight chance of rain. whaaaaaa 😦
My favorite part of your post is the “Our bodies have a unique way of letting us know what we need. The signals start quiet, but if you ignore them (like I tend to do) eventually they scream at you. I must work on listening for the quiet signals before they come at me like a howler monkey in heat.” part. First you’re such a good writer and second, I agree. It takes practice to be able to listen your body, and I’m still practicing! Nice to know I’m not alone. Glad you got to get out and enjoy the sunshine 🙂 🙂 and best of luck in your 10k!
Brittany
Thank you for this wonderful comment. I’m slowly but surely getting better at listening, but my human mind likes to trump my physical mind often. Usually it’s related to something I eat, but everyday I get better. 😝 the hardest signal to listen to right now is that coffee is making me feel awful. So sad.
danaelizabethx
WHAT A CUTE PUP!! Have fun on ur 10k!! 🙂 My sister is trying to talk me into a 1/2 marathon and I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet….doing the 15k the end of this month so we will see how that goes I guess! haha! 🙂 Have a good day!
Brittany
15k is great, and only 6k shy of the half!!! If you get confidence from the 15k you’ll be just fine doing a half!
pausesandclicks
One thing I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older is that doing things I don’t like to do just isn’t worth it. I was a runner for years and years but never really loved it. I loved what it did for me physically and even emotionally (that runner’s high!) but I always had to force myself out the door. Now I walk with my dog, who loves the time with me, and I no longer dread all the training that running used to demand. Sure do love those views of the mountains that you have!
Brittany
It’s like you stole the words right out of my mouth! I still crave the runners high so I can’t quit fully, but I definitely won’t be running forever!
Emma @em-poweredwellness
1) That face swap is pure gold.
2) I never realize how much of a sad hermit I’ve become over the winter until the spring sunshine wakes me up again. I swear humans are meant to hibernate. So yes, winter stole my soul too, even though I live in California and we don’t even have a ‘real’ winter. Cheers to spring!
Brittany
I’m so glad someone appreciated the face swap. 😂😂
Amy @ A Desert Girl
Ahh, I love this. The furry friends in this post made me smile. And I’m so glad that you are listening to your feelings and sticking with the runs that make you feel happy and fulfilled!! Whether that’s 3 miles, 6 miles, or 26 miles, that’s the goal of health and wellbeing – to get some happiness from it, right?! Good for you.
Brittany
Amen! Thank you for the support and understanding. ❤️
Amy @ A Desert Girl
Also, I wish you lived closer to us because we could use an excellent house/cat sitter. 🙂
Brittany
Ahhh! Cats are my favorite (as you know) and I never turn down a house with a cat. If only!
Musings
Usually I’m a huge fan of winter despite dealing with it for 6 months each year cause I live in Buffalo (which, btw, got 6 inches of snow last night. Insert eye-roll and foot stomp here). This year though…I thought I was going to lose my mind! Spending three weeks in Thailand didn’t help either because it was so nice. But yeah – the combination of cold and dealing with my last year of school made for a less-than-pretty picture.
I love what you wrote about listening to your body and not forcing things. I’ve been learning those things slowly but surely and I’m trying to actually apply it to my life like you’ve been. Thanks for the inspiration! (And for the pics of that downright adorable dog! <3)
Brittany
So many of us are in the boat together! Still jealous of that Thailand adventure! 😝
Rach @ This Italian Family
HA! That face swap pic is awesome!
I’m so glad this sunshine is bringing some brightness your way! Winter can be so tough. I’m so glad you’re listening to your body and doing what you want! 🙂
Brittany
I was dying at that face swap, still am. 😂😂
pickyrunner
THOSE VIEWS. SO gorgeous. I need to get out to the PNW. I say that all the time but I REALLY want to.
Brittany
FORRRREALLLL THOUGH!
wanderwolf
Living in Florida, I’d like to say some of us like winter, because it brings relief from the summer. But I know it can be rough. Still, the cats and dogs look happy, so hope you are too!
Brittany
My family in Arizona appreciates winter too, it’s all about location! 😄
wanderwolf
Yup! Though I’ll take your summers and you can have our winters 🙂
uponalovelylittlelife
I could not agree more with this post! I live in Oregon and the rain and grey normally doesn’t bother me very much but this winter, specifically March has been so long! The sunshine and warmer temperatures have been amazing!
Brittany
So excited for these warm days. 🙌🏼
B
The sky looks SO BLUE in those photos! Beautiful!
Brittany
It was!!! Those days were lovely.
Rachael @ Catch Me If You Can
again with your beautiful pictures! that puppy is so photogenic! You know I have to say I love the 10k distance way more than the half. I keep registering for halfs because I think I love them but no, its the 10k that holds my heart. I actually love winter but being in the south summer is where the soul sucking comes from…oppressive heat and me are not friends.
Brittany
He really is such a model! Location it everything with weather.
Nicola
So important to listen to our bodies and our minds. So easy to ignore them and head towards burn out but much better to listen. Beaut pics!
Brittany
Amen! 🙌🏼 Thank you!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
Um the face swap is awesome. You just made my day. Also, I love your furry friends, both feline and doggy style.
Yep, gotta listen to those bodies. Damn, they’re way smarter than us. Miss you.
Brittany
Miss you more. Like a lot.
integratedexpat
Oooooh, those mountains! I live in the Netherlands, so even though there are a few hills near where I live, mountains are sadly lacking. You are very wise for one so young! I’m still trying to persuade myself to run more than 10 minutes (not km or miles) on the treadmill this year. I never need to force myself to go to the gym or walk in the countryside. Cycling makes me feel positively joyous when I get up some speed. But that runner’s high is elusive. The best I can say is that it gives me a sense of achievement when I’ve run a 5k. Overcoming the reluctance is probably character-building, but if I wasn’t stubborn, I wouldn’t still be arguing with myself about whether to run this year or not. Mind you, it did give me a buzz when my husband told our children that I was fitter than them because of “all the running she does”! Not very observant, my husband!
Brittany
HA, your husbands comment is great. I adore the runners high. For that reason I continue on, but I just need to do it on my own terms for complete happiness!
Ellie
Winter came yesterday. Seriously yesterday was the worst weather we’ve had this season. It totally sucks. Mother Nature’s like, “What Spring? Here’s some HAIL/SNOW/SLEET/ICE!”
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I’m not having it. Good luck in your race!
Brittany
Nooooooo to that forecast. 😫
Anthony
Winter did not steal my soul. While hoping to get on the bike and ride, it did try to crush my soul. But like that poem Invictus–I am bloody, but unbowed.
Brittany
Love it! 👊🏻👊🏻
Anthony
Please help me with the emoticons. What do they mean?
Brittany
The fist was meant for a “pound it” type of reply. To signify a type of “heck yes” response.
Anthony
I feel good–I had the right idea…just didn’t know how to put it in words. Thanks Brit.
batelm2014
First off omg how awesome is that switch face thing on snapchat!!! I tried to switch faces with my kitten, but it wouldn’t work properly I don’t know why!!! Second loved your post, I haven’t gotten to the really long miles, but I do enjoy myself better when I’m running with somebody than when I’m alone. http://www.runningtomilan.wordpress.com
Brittany
Having a partner makes the longer miles sooooo much more enjoyable!
Kaitlyn
Okay all I can say is I love this post. All of it!! So good and too cute!!
Brittany
Thank you! ❤ 🙂
Amy
YES!! Winter totally stole my soul… As it does every year. I joke about how I go into “hibernation mode,” but it’s actually kind of true. I think that’s awesome that you’re listening to your body and you’re learning to be okay with “shorter” runs! (To me, anything more than 3 miles is considered long!) I actually mostly quit running last summer when I realized I wasn’t enjoying it as much as I used to and it was bringing me more stress than joy. I switched to walking, with a few bouts of sprints every couple of days, and I’m so much happier. Crazy, after running for so many years!!
Brittany
It’s true, I was stressing so much and not doing other things I wanted to do because I “had to go get my run in.” SO silly. Life is too short, so I run when I want, and that’s that!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
It’s much the same here in the UK. It doesn’t rain as much as everyone thinks, but it sure is grey a lot. When the sun comes out, everyone goes crazy.
Brittany
I love it, all the more reason for me to visit!
Josie @ Literature Mistress
YES! It did! It’s finally getting a bit warmer now and guess who’s sitting at home with tonsillitis? Moi! I hate it!
On a more positive note: that dog you get to take for walks is adorable! Such a cutie! ❤
Brittany
NOOOO. I hope you heal soon! ❤
Josie @ Literature Mistress
Thank you!
GiGi Eats Celebrities
YOU ain’t no zombie…. You don’t eat meat 😉
Brittany
Haha real talk. I’m a Brussels sprouts zombie. Or tofu. My god I had the BEST EFFING TOFU DISH YESTERDAY I COULD HAVE DIED!
The Divine Hostess
I always enjoy the beatiful pictures on your blog ❤
Brittany
Thank you so much! I consider myself an amateur at photography, but it sure is fun!
semisweettooth
Love this!! I lived in Chicago for several years and moved purely out of the need for sun. Luckily Denver hasn’t disappointed yet, but we do have rainy Springs. We’ll see… 😉
So glad y’all are getting out and enjoying the sunshine!
XO, Jessica
http://www.semisweettooth.com
Brittany
I’m going to CO for the first time in August and I am so excited. I cannot wait to see the mountains!
semisweettooth
Fantastic! I’m certain you’ll love it. Be sure to get in touch when you’re in town. 🙂
Melanie @ HappyBeingHealthy
Oh my gosh, my kids have been swapping faces with each other on their phones and laughing their heads off. Yours is epic!!! I’ll have to tell them to include the dog in their face swapping next time. Ha.
Your pictures are gorgeous, as always!!! This winter was hard for me too and the spring couldn’t have come any sooner. I also went on a 3 mile run last night and when I came home I told my husband, “Ya know, maybe I just want to be a 3-4 mile runner and keep it at that!” I know I’ll want to run longer distances again, but for now I’m liking the shorter runs. I love what you said about listening to your body. I definitely need to do better at that!!!
Good luck on your 10k!
Brittany
YES please have them swap the dog, and then post it! I go through phases with running, but lately it’s been a common theme of enjoying shorter distances. 👍🏻
Jane
Haha…love the face swap! 🙂 Also, could those skies be any bluer?! What gorgeous landscapes you have there in spring. It takes some some to work out what works best for your own body and mind with regards to running and you’ve had a bad winter. Sounds like you have worked out a good plan! All the best with it. 🙂
Brittany
That day was so perfect for a hike!
mylittletablespoon
Dear lord do I hear you. This winter has knocked me down and thrown me a couple somer saults while it was at it. Any glimpse of sun we’ve had has been like pure gold on a luxurious thrown. Even you mentioning hikes has me swooning.
I’m very jealous of your walking companion. How beautiful! As are your photographs.
Its so true that what you force you just end up avoiding. I’m glad you’re choosing to do just what your really wanting. Life’s too short to force anything. Enjoy those hikes for me!!
Brittany
Oh man, I haven’t done somersaults since I was a child, noooo. 😂
Kayse
This winter was a killer!!!! It’s still pretty cold here… But I keep doing things like filling up half the living room with starting plants and I assembled my greenhouse and put it up in the yard. I am going to just keep pretending it’s spring and hopefully it will arrive quickly.
That face swap….. I totally almost spat my tea. I think it’s the best one I’ve seen.
I’m glad you’re listening to your body!!! I keep trying to force myself to be a longish distance runner, but I always come home wishing I’d just gone for a hike with the neighbors dog.
Brittany
I love the visual of your living room. Plants have a special way of livening up a space!
Kayse
Oh it’s not an organized, lovely array, it’s plants all over the damn place haha.
P
Winter didn’t steal my soul this year because it was nonexistant here in LA, haha. Kind of wish we did have some long winter days though, because I feel like it would make me appreciate the sunny weather a whole lot more!
Brittany
Every time I would tell Gigi that it was raining in my area she would be jealous. It’s all about location!
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Amanda @ .running with spoons.
I don’t even mind the winter that much because I have snowboarding to get me through it, but I definitely notice a change in my energy and mood when spring starts showing its face. Thank goodness that warmer and sunnier days are just around the corner. Also… how did I not know you had Snapchat!?!?! What’s your username!!??
Brittany
I actually don’t have snap chat, I just downloaded face swap haha! I tried snap chat many moons ago when it first came out (2010?) but got annoyed and haven’t had it since HAHA!
Jade
It’s hilarious when the sun comes out because everyone is like GO OUTSIDE THERE IS SUN! I’ve been spending every minute of my breaks at work outside in the sun. I’m glad school is going well for you!
Brittany
I used to like staying inside when it got “too sunny” but I was clearly crazy. Now I adore the sun.
fionajarrett
Hear, hear…so ready for winter to quieten down now. Sunshine, bright early mornings and long evenings…I’m ready to get that party started 🙂
Brittany
Oh that sounds so lovely, I’m so ready.
stateeats
Gosh I just love that doggie, he is the cutest!! – Kat
Brittany
He’s got so much spunk.
dave379
Yes! To listening to yourself and making the decisions you know you want to make. Great thought and pictoral views 🙂 I’ve been thinking too more lately how longer runs would be better with a friend. Also happy for the warming weather.
Brittany
I just get mentally distracted on the longer runs. The passion isn’t there right now. Totally ok with it!
Allie Zottola
Love the cat face swap! I was pet sitting two dogs last weekend and Jimmy came with me and face swapped with one and I couldn’t stop laughing!
Anyways! Yes, winter tries to steal my soul as well. It’s always rough because Pittsburgh tends to have gray skies a lot as well! It makes me appreciate the sunshine when it does come!
I am so with you on honoring what our bodies and souls truly want in terms of movement! Good for you make a decision that you’re happy with!!
Brittany
Animal face swaps have me dying.
Mellie Dee
Holy macaroni! That cat face swap is terrifying. haha Friend and I have been making conversations of doing a trip to Seattle. if that ever happens, I will definitely be reaching out and asking where we need to go! Always so jealous so I would definitely like to visit the places you go. hahaa
Brittany
Yassss!!!