Colours.

We are in the season of dull colours, of darkness and drear, of late-rising and early-setting suns, of overcast days. The time of blankets and lamps, early morning coffee, and fresh-baked bread. There are days when you use the oven simply to add some heat, days when your hands ache from the cold of pocketless farmers' market mornings.

In this season, what joy it brings to find salad greens at the farmers' market, to receive a brightly coloured postcard, to drink coffee from a painted mug. I keep rainbow flip flops under my desk (just in case), marvel in the bliss of orange peppers and yellow bananas, and hide a pink shirt under my black button-down.

Today, take a breath, take a walk, and look for colours. Notice the reds, the greens, yellows, blues, orange and purple. Look past the greys and blacks and dull browns: see colour and hope of spring.