Having lived in New England all of my life, I've grown accustomed to an environment with four distinct seasons. Although they usually play a background role, the changing patterns of winter, spring, summer, and fall probably impact my day-to-day life in ways much more complex than the obvious ones that appear at surface level. I've sometimes wondered how different my internal life would feel if I lived in a place without four such distinct seasons. (Regardless of where we live, I imagine that, on some level, our environment comes to reside within, impacting each of us, to varying degrees, at the core of our being.) Clearing my car of snow in below-freezing temperatures in January, for example, I'm always amazed to think that in six months I may be enjoying a summer read on a beach chair, warmed by the sun and relaxing with my toes in the sand. I love visiting places like Guatemala, Florida, California, and even South Carolina, where different seasons exist, but--from my New Englander's perspective--seem linked more by similarities than differences. However, I can't imagine living there year-round. For me, at this point in my life, that wouldn't be a comfortable match. Yet, I know that for others, that is their ideal. One of my sisters, for instance, is very content living year-round in Florida, where she can enjoy some beach or pool time nearly any month of the year. And my Godparents, who've lived in New England for most of their lives, are happy to leave the cold weather behind as they travel south each year during the winter months as snowbirds in their RV. Occasionally in conversations, my sister and Godparents have sounded almost apologetic when I've mentioned cold temperatures or a forecasted snowstorm . I've quickly reassured them there's no need to feel sorry for me...I love the cold and snow of winter (and if not careful to consider their perspectives, I could feel sorry for them, missing out on what I see as winter's beauty). But that wasn't always the case. During one phase of my life, I strongly disliked winter. It was, by far, my least favorite of the four seasons, and, in my opinion, it couldn't leave quickly enough. But gradually that feeling shifted, first to tolerance, then to still-reluctant acceptance, and finally to where I am today, at deep appreciation. As far as I can remember, the shift occurred most markedly when I became a mother, when a certain magic that accompanies the transformations of the seasons was renewed within me. I was excited to share this sense of wonder with my daughter, who had recently arrived from Guatemala, a country known as the land of "eternal spring." Ever since, my love of each season has grown stronger, and though I still have a least favorite among the four, I appreciate the unique beauty each one brings. Just recently, however, and with thanks to mindfulness, which has helped bring a new awareness to the topic, I began to learn a new lesson from this shift: embrace life's seasons. As the Bible and The Byrds have already made known, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under Heaven." As the years have passed, and I've gone through the births and deaths of loved ones, the challenges and joys of raising a child, the ins and outs of relationships of all sorts, the struggles and accomplishments of a fulfilling career, and each of life's "ups and downs" that have painted my days, I've come to gain an acceptance of everything that happens as an intricate part of life's wondrous complexity. Yet, only within the past few weeks and months have I been able to shift from accepting to embracing. Some words I read last night in Rolf Gates's and Katrina Kenison's Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga really hit home on this idea of embracing life's circumstances: "Mindfulness is the art of paying attention. But there is more to it than that. It is paying attention with an abiding faith in a loving universe...When we pay attention with faith that we will be supported, then growth really is possible, our vision becomes clear, our path becomes unobstructed, and we are able to see the 'Good in every person and situation.'" That can be difficult to do, especially when roadblocks and mountains may seem to dominate our life's pathways, as they do in certain challenging times. But if we believe, as Deepak Chopra and others might suggest, that the universe is here to support our learning and deepening understanding of self and others, then somewhere, on some level, we can make a certain peace with life's challenges. Just like the seasons, life's challenges come and go. I can fight them, or I can go with the flow and accept them. Or, moving beyond both of those options, I can embrace them as I look for the good in each situation and each person I encounter. The last course may not be easy, but it brings with it a deep sense of peace that, for me, doesn't accompany the others. Each day presents new opportunities to learn. I hope that today and in moments to come, I can have a new appreciation for each season of my life, embracing alike the warmth and cold, the sun and clouds, the rain and snow, the rose and thorn that each person and each situation presents, openly, willingly, and lovingly. Open to all seasons, I'll be more receptive to the wisdom each one offers, allowing the lessons to enter my heart. What might we learn if we embrace each of life's seasons? I imagine the lessons will stick with us for a lifetime. Gratefully, Lisa
0 Comments
|
Archives
February 2019
Categories |