Reasons to love the month of March

Jamie Parsell

BLUEFIELD — I have a love-hate relationship with the month of March. Sad, but true. I hate the tease of March, with sunny weekends and snowy Mondays. I dislike the cold rain with crazy wind that blows my SUV on the highway. March — I like to imagine the month as a stubborn individual — keeps its icy fingers in February, but points its feet toward April. Not content to pick a side — winter or spring — the month is as unpredictable as the NCAA basketball tournament. Of course, the unpredictability is one of the reasons I love the month of March. I never know what is outside my door each morning. But there is more to the month than just crazy weather. Check out all these positive reasons to finally start appreciating the most fickle month of the year.

n Today — March 22 — is officially Goof-off Day. Like I need an official day to goof off, I do it every day, all day. But having a day to specifically act silly and be slightly off beat is a great way to relax with friends and family. Hang out, be silly, laugh at stupid jokes and idle the day away.

n For three weeks, March Madness will take over the television and the Internet. Instead of complaining about the coverage, pick a college basketball team and follow them through the tournament. Enter office pools, make creative wagers with friends and family. (I am not talking about betting the bank account.) While the tournament has already started, go ahead and fill out a bracket, even if you don’t have a clue about the difference between the Big East and the ACC.

n Sure, the holidays are big food months. But March brings back simple foods like asparagus, apples and grapes, which are all in season this month. Plus, sweet tooths of the nation can rejoice in the arrival of Girl Scout cookies. During the remaining days, celebrate National Nutrition Month, National Noodle Month and National Frozen Food Month. And then, celebrate the birth of pancakes and the invention of Coca-Cola.

n Women’s History Month is another reason to appreciate March because it calls attention to fearless and fun females in history. From Civil War spies to first ladies of the White House, women play an important role in the history of our country. Need inspiration? Amelia Earhart, the fictional character Rosie the Riviter and the first woman shouldn’t this be woman for president, was this in the U.S.? What year? Victoria Claflin Woodhull are all examples of strong women.

And if all of these reasons are not enough to celebrate a month known as Irish Heritage Month, March 26 will please even the harshest critic. Known as Make Your Own Holiday, you can celebrate anything and everything. Want to celebrate Christmas? Go ahead. What about cupcakes? Bake a dozen. Or if you hate holidays, you can ignore the entire day. The choice is up to you.

The rest of the month is a combination of celebrations that range from doctors to taters. Which brings up the question of who or what actually names these random holidays and celebrations? And should we really participate in a celebration for a tater? The answer is no. And all of this nonsense is not to persuade a reader to celebrate inanimate objects. Instead, it serves as a reminder to enjoy every day — even days like March 26. Life is full of simple enjoyments with little or no fanfare. It is up to us to find small ways to live each day to the fullest. By looking back on the past, enjoying the change of seasons and laughing at impracticality, not only do we celebrate the arrival of spring, but we celebrate life.

Jamie Parsell is the Lifestyle editor of the Daily Telegraph. Contact her at jparsell@bdtonline.com.