March felt off this year, didn’t it?

Yes, it was colder and rainier than many of us would have liked. The daffodils bloomed anyway, but most of this year’s photos are cast in gray skies. But the shift I’m noticing isn’t just in the weather — it’s in us.

Things have felt … prickly.

I understand why. I’ve felt it, too. Rising costs. Heavy headlines. Too much work and not enough time. It adds up. And lately, that wear has shown up in how we interact — with a little less patience and a little more edge.

But if there’s one thing La Conner has proven time and again, it’s that we are at our best when we come together to solve problems.

This is a community that shows up. We care deeply. We don’t always agree — but we know how to work through that with respect. Civility isn’t about avoiding hard conversations. It’s about how we have them and when we have them.

The challenges ahead are real, and they’ll require all of us working together. We know how to do that. We’ve done it before.

As for me, I’m turning my attention to what’s exciting, new and working. In our new series, Resilient Together, we’ll be exploring the people and efforts and new ideas that make this place strong, from science to food banks. I’ll be celebrating every donation, every new subscription, every advertiser, and the small miracle of creating this newspaper with you.

Spring is here, even under gray skies. The daffodils still bloomed.

Kari Mar is the editor and publisher of La Conner Community News.