The Ides of March are upon us…whatever that means. In usual Tennessee winter turning into spring fashion, we are experiencing the lovely mercurial weather that makes it impossible to know, day to day, whether we need to don our winter coat or swimsuit! But in knowing that’s what to expect, we enjoy our typical seasonal transition with our usual shaking of the head and acceptance of sinus distress! 

We are almost on the cusp of my favorite time of year, when the trees bud and the daffodils bloom to tell us the magic of rebirth is coming. The sights and sounds and feelings of this seasonal transition lends itself to celebration of life. Feeding our souls on the world awakening again after its winter slumber, gives us our own feelings of coming alive again. The world itself responds in kind, especially here in Williamson County, as we encounter event after event, creating good and paying it forward in the community with plenty of opportunities to celebrate helping others. 

Every year, in this issue, we celebrate the art of eating, drinking and being merry. Now, who doesn’t love that! Of course, our focus here is in the things that nourish our physical souls; although the act of enjoying a great meal, an amazing glass of wine or being in a venue filled with music surrounded by merriment, feeds more than the physical, doesn’t it? When I think about the idea of “feeding one’s soul,” versus the simple act of feeding ourselves, I am met with a series of emotions tied to that idea.

This very weekend, I was away with my daughter for her, now annual, trek to Georgia for the Access Broadway Musical Theater competition she attends with her dance school. We have worked for nearly a year on two solos and three group acts – that she is involved in –along with supporting the entire team’s worth of performances. I have always conceded that whatever it is that feeds her soul, and I see the proof in that over time, will be the thing I will commit to her 100% to help her see it through. Well, it appears that is musical theater. So, here we go; 601 performances later, albeit tired, all I could think was: Look at those faces. Children of all ages from five up to eighteen, singing, dancing and acting their hearts out. Talent in all ranges, but fervor and passion and commitment to this thing, this act which fed their soul, was present in all. It was oozing from them. It was infectious. It was inspiring. It was awing. How often can any of us say we feel that way about something? How often do we get to feed our souls? 

Not only was this experience enabling me to reaffirm my commitment to her and her soul’s journey, but it made me realize that we should all be doing the same. In our daily lives, find our thing, whatever it is, that offers us our rebirth, our own reawakening and our own soul nourishing. It is truly what makes life worth living. It’s truly what makes us alive. 

So, eat the cake, drink the wine and SING and DANCE – because the merry part is the stuff of which life is truly made.

Cheers to you, Williamson County!