By Samantha McKenzie

Spring is here. The birds are chirping outside my window. The trees are blossoming outside of my door. The parks are getting populated with people and the smell of the “a new beginning” is in the air.

I’ve always loved learning new things, but when I stumbled upon an article that suggests it leads to greater happiness, I was reinvigorated to find better ways to make my 24 hours more meaningful.

According to Vanessa King, a positive psychology expert, human beings have a natural desire to learn and progress which leads to happiness and well being.

“Learning can help us build confidence and a sense of self-efficacy. It can also be a way of connecting with others too,” King writes in an online article. Studies say that adult learning has a positive impact on self-esteem when it meets the need of the learner and when the learner is at a stage in their life when they are ready and receptive to benefit from it.

This happiness takes place when new learning opportunities meet up with your creativity. Together the two stimulate ideas and connect us to other areas of interest.

The experience is similar to going on a first date with someone you have chemistry with. We all can remember that feeling: It made us happy.

Spring always does this for me. Something about the warm weather that ignites my desire to get my hands into something new. It stimulates my adrenaline. It gets my blood flowing. It’s positively intoxicating.

The giddiness has begun. Spring is here. It ushers in new life. It gives us a fresh start. It reminds us that we can start over. What’s got you sprung about the spring?