The Ides of March Are Fast Approaching
March is a busy month, so many things are going on!
The Ides of March are fast approaching. They weren’t very good luck for this guy, Julius Ceasar. In the middle (or Ides) of the month he was assassinated by a group of political rivals in ancient Rome.
While presiding at the Roman Senate, he was set upon by over 60 conspirators, including his close friend Brutus, who all stabbed him to death. They were afraid he was growing too powerful, so they offed him.
Politics has always been a rough game.
But March has always been a very busy month for many reasons
- The biggest thing happening in March for most people is the fact that it heralds the advent of Spring. The vernal equinox starts on March 19 and is the advent of Spring.
- No more freezing cold days and nights, we are almost over all that. It is time to start thinking about new beautiful growing things, a sign of hope and rebirth as Winter reluctantly loosens its icy grip on all of us. Optimism and joy are in the air.
- Daylight Savings Time- DST- is also fast approaching, on March 10th. This is the time we “Spring Forward” and advance our clocks by one hour. Although it’s only an hour difference, it affects our bodies for up to a week, similar to jet lag for many people.
- DST affects our Circadian rhythm, our internal body clock, because the extra sunlight changes everything. Common symptoms include sleep deprivation, depression, weight gain, headaches, car accidents or work mishaps, and even an increased risk for heart attacks and strokes.
- Baseball, the erstwhile national pastime also begins in March. For all you frustrated armchair QBs and couch potatoes there is finally something to look forward to: Opening Day! The long, leisurely baseball season goes on from March until early October.
- The Boys of Summer are well into their spring training routine. It all culminates with the World Series in late October/early November when MLB crowns the winner of the Series to be the Champions of all of baseball.
- March Madness, the NCAA championship college tournament is a very exciting sporting event for many people. If you like sports, you are already looking at the possible entrants and angling to get into the best office pool. Gambling on the eventual winner is expected to be heavy, with over $15 billion wagered this year, compared to only $3 billion in 2022.
- If you’re not the gambling type, there is still something pure and noble about the NCAA Tournament, a single-elimination format. The winner advances to the next round, loser goes home. The drama, dreams, and spirit of these young athletes are even more poignantly displayed because only slightly over 1% of them will ever make it into the NBA.
- St. Patrick’s Day has become almost a national holiday, ostensibly to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland. Almost everybody either wears some green clothing or knows somebody who does. Everybody who chooses to is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.
- In reality, the day may begin with eating corned beef and cabbage, attending parades, visiting with family, and getting into the party spirit. But it soon devolves into a night of pub-crawling, seeking out other people wearing Kiss Me I’m Irish badges and has become a sort of drinking marathon.
There is a lot to do in March, from sports fanatics who like to watch or participate in public events to people who love to get down and dirty in their gardens and get busy planting and nurturing vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, celery, and turnips. Hope springs eternal in March.
March has also been designated as Disability Awareness Month and International Women’s Day. No matter your preference, you will have an opportunity to recognize and celebrate it in March.
Life is a party sometimes. Let the good times roll. We are all connected…
