Seasons

Sifting through the shifts of evolution, growth, grief, pain, and gain - I see life flashing before my eyes. The subtle changes in my body, in my family, and in my relationships humble my idea of who I am. What role I play in it all. Sometimes it's a hard pill to swallow. Other times it's an enlivening reminder of how far I've come. I imagine we all feel similar emotions at some point in time during our respective experiences here. How do you cope with yours? Have you developed healthy habits? Do you nurture or neglect yourself and others? I bet I could meet you wherever you are. The truth is, no one has all the answers or always does the "right" thing. To quote the gist of this idea from one of my favorite artists, "We are all here doing the best we can with what we got." 

Winter, spring, summer, and fall come and go without any influence from us as humans. Nature continues to play out each act without effort or fail. Imagine living in such a way - completely surrendering and knowing that experiences, people, possessions, and desires also come and go in different seasons. Little is absolutely permanent, but one thing is for certain. We are born and we die. Everything in-between is nuance. Living, learning, and loving are gifts that we get along the way like the refreshing, cool air of fall embracing us after summer, the crisp nippiness of winter kissing our cheeks as fall ends, the vibrant blooms of spring welcoming us once the winter air lifts, and the energizing heat of summer days followed by the coziness of its nights encouraging us to spend time together. Neither comes without some discomfort, however. Some of us will experience illness, aches, and even heartbreaks, but that shouldn't take away from how we embody the gratitude of being offered each of our presents as we observe our presence. 

If there is anything to take away from this, it's that we are as nature is. Grounded, whole, powerful, unique, and a bit unpredictable, we strive to take on each day knowing that the inevitable is just that- inevitable. So why worry? Look forward to each season with confidence because you are in control. Nature never asked anyone for permission and yet she's still here and most of us still respect and love her deeply. Through floods, hurricanes, tornados, tsunamis, earthquakes, etc., we don't turn our backs on her because, in some way, we are reminded of all the beauty in life that was gifted to us. The blessings that come with seasonal transitions seem to outweigh the natural disasters we are prone to face with each shift. So too do our reflections and reverence of life tend to offset any loss or challenges. Keep going and keep growing. 

Unlike nature, our seasons aren't typically measured by calendar dates or meteoralogical changes. Our seasons are measured more by the moments we choose to create and by the beings we choose to integrate into each of those moments. The goal is to practice letting go when necessary, allowing a new season to peak. Surrender with faith in knowing that you're divinely guided, loved, and protected. Each of us are forces to be reckoned with. Why not live accordingly?