There are all kinds of seasons: Hot and humid. Rain and mud. Cold and snowy. Mosquito, allergy, strawberry picking, and football are just a few examples of the seasons we enjoy or dread.
We can neither change what happened in previous seasons, nor accurately predict future outcomes.
Seasons remind me of life. Always changing and always filled with elements of good and bad.
Spring brings green grass, blooming flowers, and allergy producing pollen.
Summer has long days of sunshine and oppressive humidity.
The glorious colors of Fall foliage are quickly followed by the chore of leaf clean up.
Winter blankets us with pearl white snow and breaks our backs while shoveling.
I’m a New Englander. I thoroughly enjoy the balance of yin and yang of each season. I don’t mind the liquid sunshine of a rainy day. I enjoy shoveling a path in the foot-deep snow of my backyard so our dogs can run and play.
My attitude towards the variability in seasons and life is not shared by many. Some people avoid seasonal changes.
“Sure, Las Vegas is always hot, but it’s a dry heat. It’s good for my allergies.” “I don’t mind the humidity in Florida. At least I don’t have to shovel snow.”
Some people avoid making difficult decisions in life.
“I have to stay in this job, I need the health insurance.” “I know this house is too small. But I grew up here. We can make it work.”
Sometimes, we are forced to make changes.
People lose jobs. Our pets die. Relationships end. A child breaks an arm.
These are the unexpected, unpredictable, and necessary storms of life.
Do these storms inflict damage? Absolutely! They leave a path of destruction and a pile of debris that we are forced to clean up.
Hopefully, we have family and friends or even a stranger who stops by to lend a helping hand. Someone to help us save the “good” and toss out the “bad.”
Just as a tree may become healthier after a wind storm breaks off the dead branches, our lives can be enriched by enduring a painful experience. We become stronger and more capable to deal with future hardships.
We can never completely avoid seasonal or life change. It’s inevitable. We might as well get used to it. As we say in New England, “If you don’t like what you see out the window, wait five minutes, it will change.”
Or, you could move to San Diego. I hear it is always sunny and 75 degrees. But that sounds boring to me.
What about you? What is your favorite season? Do you like change or do you like predictable stability?
Be Kind. Be Thankful. Be Significant.
Peter
