Sunshine in April

This too shall pass… maybe… probably… we will see!

What season of life are you in? A great one where everything seems to align and go smoothly? Or maybe a tough one where nothing seems to line up at all and you feel like a piece of tumbleweed blowing through the desert not knowing which way is up? Or maybe somewhere in between where some things are good, and others are not so good.

No matter the season you are in, life will change. The days, weeks, months, and years keep rolling on and with each season life evolves.

These are how I experience seasons, and maybe yours are the opposite of mine. But most of us have a favorite season of the year and a less than favorite season with the other two acting more like book ends where some things are good, and others are not.

Summer. Summer is my favorite season. I associate summer with warm weather, hot sandy beaches, adventures and feeling alive! Warm weather just seems to sooth the muscles and forces them to relax a little. Hot sandy beaches keep us hopping towards that towel or to the edge of the water to cool off. Adventures give us something to look forward to and build amazing memories to cherish. I just feel more alive in the summer. I have more energy, want to be outside as much as possible – preferably near or in the water, and love living. All of my life I’ve looked forward to the warmth of summer and the potential that it brings.

Fall. The changing of leaves with so many beautiful colors. The sad end to the long days of summer and the cooler nights it brings. The dread of shorter days and pulling the heavier clothes out of the closet. The lure of upcoming holidays promised the potential of fun of costume parties and dress up, breaking bread with long distance and rarely seen relatives, and exchanging gifts. For some, the expectations around the holidays are overwhelming and expensive, especially when the focus is on ‘buy, buy, buy.’ I used to be more neutral about fall because it is the exciting start to a new school year, new friends, and new dynamics. But, over the years it has become the weighted gateway to the dreaded winter, especially with colder, cloudy, drizzly days in the PNW.

Winter. EW. Cold. Dark. Dreary. Winter is my least favorite season. It is a time when the days are short, darkness sets in early, and the day may not even seem to start at all when you’re in the fog. Winter drains my energy and motivation, leaving me tired and sad. This has been my truth since I was little. I never liked having to bundle up in a pile of clothes to stay warm. Even as an adult being able to afford higher quality clothing and warmers, my feet and hands are cold. My brain stays cold and less functional no matter how much I fight against the pull of hibernation. I just want to curl up and wait until winter is over and the sun starts warming the earth again.

Spring. The promise of new life. The rebirth of colorful flowers, garden growth, and the start of longer days. Spring is my second favorite season as it of course is the lead into summer – like a great movie preview of what is to come. Spring can also be a deviant little teaser with a stretch of warm sunshine getting you ready to pack up those winter clothes, but then reverts back to cooler days and putting the coat back on. Spring can also be the lure of the outdoors to feel more sunshine as the light stays a few minutes longer with each day.

The seasons of life are like the seasons of the year. Each season of life has its unique set of gifts and exchanges. Sometimes we are in long stretches of summer and comfortably enticed into a happy state of being. Warm, comfortable, at peace. Other times, we are in the depths of winter, maybe even fighting for our own survival because of the heavy weight of the snow life has cast on us. Most of the time we are somewhere in fall or spring balancing the beauty of colorful leaves and emerging flowers with the tug of winter or the lure of summer.

Most of the time the seasons change, and life goes on, but sometimes we have to say goodbye because it is the final season of life for a loved one. Or maybe it’s the end of the current season we are in, and it is time to move on. Time to say goodbye to that season of life and be present in the current season.

Moving from one season to the next is not always easy, but it is necessary. Moving into the next season does not mean the past seasons have not left their mark. Each season leaves a mark on our psyche and sometimes a huge dent in our bodies. But if we live in those past seasons with regret of the things we didn’t do or holding on to what we have been planning for years or even decades, we can miss the gifts that each season can give and life in front of us.

So, I ask again, what season of life are you in?

And are you present in this season, stuck in a past season, or focused on a season that may or may not come?