#10Thankful – Cycles and Seasons
If one thing is certain in life, it is cycles.
Seasons come and go, night turns surely to morning, and years pass more quickly than we might hope.
![20140725_175103[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/20140725_1751031.jpg)
It’s hard not to see this time of year as an end. It is the end of summer, the end of sleeping in and staying up late, the end of a distinct freedom that exists when nights are brief and days are long and rich. But summer’s end ushers in autumn’s beauty, a time of warm sensory splendor. The vibrant colors of the changing foliage, the crisp smell of apple cider and pumpkin spice everything, the quiet entrance of a slight nip in the evening air…all serve as not-so-subtle reminders that the passing of warmth brings a certain hurtling toward the dark and cold of winter.
It’s hard not to see winter as bleak, and many people do so. We trade long, lazy days for long, drowsy nights. We swap the feel of hot sun for fuzzy sweaters on our skin. We bemoan the cold and hunker down to wait for spring. But why?
The older I get, the more I grow to appreciate the beauty in each season, to see that each season serves distinct purpose, whether in nature or in our lives. Winter nights may be long and cold, but morning will surely follow. Ice and snow may cover the ground, but soon will melt and ready the earth for new growth. Winter is a time for rest and renewal, a preparation for what comes next. The snows of winter blanket the earth, softening the landscape and smoothing the rough edges. Without winter to provide a period of rest, spring is perhaps less interesting. How can we appreciate light and warmth and renewal without understanding dark and cold and exhaustion?
Just as the seasons flow surely one into another, our lives will always cycle through good times and bad. While it may be difficult to recall the feel of summer sun or the smell of springtime blooms, we can ride out the latent hours of winter secure in the knowledge that even though far away, the new season will eventually come. And no matter in which season we wait, it is imperative that we seek what is good and beautiful about each season of life.
[bctt tweet=”Seek what is good and beautiful in each season of life.” username=”@LisaMeaningofMe”]
This summer, I have been so grateful for the gift of time. We spent time as a family doing all the proper things of a summer vacation. We enjoyed day trips and hikes and movies outside under the stars. We stayed up late, chased fireflies, watched sunsets, and slept until our bodies were satisfied. We enjoyed the fruits of the summer, both literally and figuratively. We enjoyed fresh produce and icy cool drinks, slogged through humidity before collapsing, relieved, into chilled indoor spaces. We played games and read books for hours, with little concern about the hour for meals or sleep.
We lived.
Now that summer is passing its torch to fall, I am grateful for a return to routine. Back to school means back to regular bedtimes and regular rising. Autumn means it is time to gear up for the season of harvest, of coming home, reaping the benefits of what we have sown. The fruits of the earth change with harvest time, but are no less enticing. Autumn brings a return to warm drinks, cozy blankets, and hot soup simmering on the stove. We will feel the sting of icy wind on our cheeks and breathe the cold, clean air. We will shield our eyes from the bright sun reflected on sparkling surfaces after a snowfall. There will be time to play games and read books for hours as the wind howls and the snow falls outside the windows.
And while we await spring, we will live.
![20150502_112344[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/20150502_1123441.jpg)
[bctt tweet=”While we await spring, we will live.” username=”@LisaMeaningofMe”]
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“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under Heaven”. They seasons do seem to pass quickly now, and the years right along with them. Children grow older, life changes, and we continue on the journey. Although I am neither a fan of bitter cold her baking sun, I do love the change of seasons and miss that part of living in Dakota. I love Autumn, it is an ending but it is also a time of snuggling in before the winter, and I like that. This was beautifully written, Lisa! If we live embracing each day as it comes we will also embrace each season. You are right that it takes the dark times to appreciate the light when it returns.
I thought of that verse as I was writing this, Josie. Definitely. And I really do believe that all things in life have purpose, even if we can’t see that purpose or understand it. That is a great challenge. I also had Emily Dickinson’s words in mind. (in her “Success is counted sweetest”) Maybe in order to fully appreciate and understand our victories in life we need to experience defeat to put them into perspective and give them meaning?
Your words capture my mood just perfectly. I just sighed and relaxed into this piece. Wonderful!
Ooh, what a great comment, May! Thank you! <3
Lisa this is beautifully written and beautifully shared. You captured my heart with your words. And I will try to appreciate the winter season.
That makes me so happy. Thank you, Val. <3 Good to see you back, too!
This is beautiful. I believe I will remember it every time I feel the tactile winter. Snowflakes on tongues. Sweaters on skin. The warmth of the fire on my face.
Thank you, Anna. That is exactly the spirit!
Such lovely pictures that capture the essence of each season. I always try to remind myself to enjoy the gifts of each season and to try not to wish for the next one to come too soon. This summer was a killer though and I am wishing hard for fall!
Thank you, Leslie. Yet as much as those photos grab the seasons, they still don’t do justice to the in-person beauty.
This summer was definitely too hot and muggy for my taste – I tried really hard, though. 😀
Love the cycles. You illustrate them beautifully here. Ah, all pumpkin spice scented things are divine. My favourite autumn apples are here and I am eating nothing but…
Hope you have a good week Lisa.
I’ll be ready for pumpkin stuff as soon as the temps dip, Kerry. Still a bit too warm here. I suspect it’s probably cooler already where you are, yes?
Have a good week, too!
This is beautiful. I love every season too, each is unique and lovely in its own way.
Thanks, Christina. I find that to be true more each year.
very excellent wordage!
I reluctantly agree as to the inevitability of the change of the seasons, however I still find myself, (to lift a line from one of the few poems I’m familiar with), raging against the dying of the light, even if it is only Daylight Savings Time reverting to it’s ‘normal’ schedule, a total shadow-seeing groundhog with a paw on the lighting remote control.
Now that is a big compliment coming from you, Clark, as we know you wholeheartedly and emphatically do not love the winter!
Lovely, the seasons just go too fast!
Thanks, Paul. And yes, they certainly do.
This week is the first feel of autumn. I don’t mind autumn at all. I still don’t like winter, no matter how pretty the words to describe it are. 🙂
Lovely photos to go with your reflection.
Sounds like you’ve been busy having a marvelous summer.
I’m loving the slight touch of autumn in the air this week. Still a little too warm for pumpkin spice nonsense, but I’m so glad it’s not 98 and humid! We have been having a lovely summer and we’re off to a great start for the school year!
I used to look at the passing of the season with the same hope. And I remember spending summers in much the same way you described. But now it seems all I do is slog through work. Winter used to hold more joy for me when I could play in it. Sledding and cross-country skiing were winter delights. But since my back injury, these are not sports that I can participate in and the cold makes my back feel even worse. Is it spring yet? I want to be warm again.
It’s very difficult to enjoy any season when our bodies (or minds) get in the way. So very very true. I will hope that you are able to find back-friendly activities to enjoy the seasons. 🙂
This is gorgeously poetic, and I’m glad your summer’s been so lovely. I’m so happy you’ve been able to do all the things that a summer really should contain.
I completely ‘get’ about how it’s good to find beauty in every season, and I’ll admit it’s there, but autumn and winter are always struggles for me, and the closing nights and the chilling days are just a trial. I really don’t like them at all. Spring is always such a relief, but never quite enough, and summer, well I could live quite happily in summer all year long.
I know I know I know you do, my dear. And you know what? It’s totally OK. We all have legit reasons why we don’t enjoy particular parts of the year, of our lives. I’m definitely not suggesting we be happy all the time. Sometimes we just…aren’t. You know well that I have not been in recent years past. When you are stuck in the dark chill of your winter, always remember that spring and summer WILL come. Always. <3
And thank you for saying “gorgeously poetic.” Day made. *squee*
See? I squeed for you. 😀
Heheh YAY! 😀 That’s made my day now 😀
A simply gorgeous piece, Lisa. I still find winter bleak and ugly and don’t enjoy any of it except for the rare snowfall we get. At least our winters aren’t terribly long; things start to green up in late February. The end of summer is always a little sad. I think it goes back to being a kid and going back to school after a carefree summer, and even all those years when I wasn’t either a student or a teacher, I still felt it. But fall is my favorite time of year, so once I get over that initial sadness, I’m ready to bring on snappy weather and fall colors and sweaters and boots and pumpkins.
I thought of your beautiful fall decorations this morning when I was in the dollar store contemplating leaf garlands.
Even now that I’m not going to school or teaching, I find myself feeling that September is the start of all things new. More so for me at this time of year than in January. I am quite ready for the snappy weather and sweaters and boots (on sale at Famous this week – whee!) and all the things. It’s cooler here today (90ish yesterday – WTF?) and I am loving it. Don’t be sad…think of all the sweaters and boots!