On Seasons
Just like the seasons of the year, our lives have seasons as well.
I love the fall. College football, cooler air, shorter days, leaves changing colors, jackets and boots make their return, and a subtle reset makes itself known. Soon to be long gone are the hot summer days, filled with sweat and swimming. We now slow down, embracing the arrival of a new season and with it, a likeness of life begins to show itself.
I spend a lot of time looking at little things and trying to turn them into lessons. The change of seasons is one of them. Down here in the South, seasons are somewhat rare. Summer seems to last forever, Spring and Fall are a blink of an eye, and then Winter could last for several months or one week. It’s all so finnicky.
However, with each season comes a change of pace.
In the Spring, renewal, fresh starts. A season of beginnings. The grass and the trees start to gain their color back, coming alive. It’s a beautiful mess. Spring provides a time for us to step into something new. It’s about planting the seeds that will eventually take place.
Then comes Summer. A time for growth, enjoying fruits of your labor, and soaking up the sunshine. There is a sense of aliveness in the air that gives us energy and momentum. Doors open, we find ourselves saying “yes” more. A season that is meant to be used well and not wasted.
Now we look ahead, to Fall. It’s a transition season. A season full of letting go of what is no longer serving us, preparing, moving, shifting us to make changes that aren’t always easy. It’s a time to let go of the familiar to make space for what’s next. Just like the trees must shed its leaves to make room for the new ones, we do the same. The decisions we begin to make here will reap a harvest at a later time. Here, we are intentional with our decisions.
And then the last of them all, Winter. Cold, quiet, and still. Although things look and feel lifeless, underneath the surface, roots are growing deeper, the seeds settle, and life prepares for the Spring. This is a time for us to rest, reflect, and truly slow down. Even though it’s filled with the Holiday spirit and Christmas and all the things that come with that, it will go by swiftly if we don’t pause to enjoy it.
The resemblances of life in the seasons are a reminder that things are temporary and fleeting. But with each one, there are lessons to be learned. Summer brings energy, whereas Winter brings a time to recover. Spring is fresh and full of new life, Fall clears the way for that to happen. We need this balance in our lives so that we can always be making room for the new. And we need it to remind us to be present when we are in each season, knowing it will soon pass us on.
As Fall makes its way to the South, here are some of my intentions for this season:
Slow down and be more patient with moments.
Read more.
Way, and I mean way, less screen time.
Continue to get outside as much as possible.
Early dinners, early bedtimes, early mornings.
Keep things clean and sharp. Wardrobe, truck, tools, home, etc.
Focus on building strength in my workouts.
Write more. In my journal and on here.
Be intentional with what I say “yes” to.
Stop wishing my days and weeks away.
Drink my coffee slower and get outside first thing in the morning.
Here’s to making most of the seasons. Not only the ones to come, but the ones we are currently in. Nothing lasts forever. Embrace the natural, necessary, and beautiful change that comes your way.
Cheers,
JH
Really nice job on this, Jake. Enjoyed it!