 “Frühjahrsmüdigkeit”
(…Or more commonly known as “Spring Fever”)
“In springtime, love is carried on the breeze. Watch out for flying passion or kisses whizzing by your head.”
~Terri Guillemets
A strange phenomenon can be spotted around our dear campus: people seem happier than usual. There are so many couples holding hands, even making out quite daringly in public places. Most of us are feeling restless, more hyperactive, more prone to daydreaming, to spending time outside, maybe even feeling some loss of appetite and insomnia, or the desire for “closeness.” Every year, the change shocks me by how dramatic it is. Suddenly people become more sociable, more relaxed, sexier even.
What is going on? Although the official medical causes of spring fever have not yet been fully identified, doctors and scientists agree that it has to do with hormones. According to this theory, in the springtime, when the days become longer and warmer, you're being bombarded by pleasant, exciting, new stimulants, such as sunlight, vibrant colors, warmth, smells, and the body readjusts its hormone levels, and more endorphin- “the happiness hormone,” testosterone and estrogen are released, which affect both your mood, your libido, the way you feel, even the way you look.
As soon as temperatures start to climb, we start shedding clothing and showing skin. Yes, it's practical, because of the weather, but it's also display behavior, a sort of subconscious sign that you're trying to attract a “mate,” - like the peacock flaunting its tail. The days are longer, and the weather is nice, so we spend more time socializing.
But spring is not just about the weather getting warmer. It is a simple miracle, which we take for granted: it is a full rebirth of nature. Spring is the time that everything comes back to life. And what says “life,” more than love?
“To live fully is to let go and die with each passing moment, and to be reborn in each new one,” said Jack Kornfield.
So, take a chance, and enjoy the moments full of joy and bliss that spring gives us! Go lay out on the grass, drink some ice coffee. And be sure to spread the love and happiness to your friends and family. Just like “misery loves company,” the opposite is also true: smiling is addictive, and also highly contagious. So go ahead… there is never enough happiness in the world.
P.S. Because it's the end of the year, I just want to take a moment and thank all my readers for their support and insightful e-mails this semester. Thanks! It means a lot to me. Good luck on your finals, and have a great summer everyone. Stay safe! And see you all next fall.
BY ANNA KORSUNSKA (COMD/II)
annak@ug.bilkent.edu.tr
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