With a deep freeze coming to the city I live in this week, I have been thinking about how we can learn to embrace the seasons and where we are in life. How can we appreciate the beauty of each time of the year and every stage we are in life? And Understand each season has its place and purpose. I hope this article inspires you to embrace the seasons and appreciate each moment in your life.
How Can We benefit from learning to embrace the season we are in
The other day I looked at the weekly weather for the city I live in and I was horrified. Extreme cold temperatures approaching for the first time this season. At first, I felt dread. Then I took a deep breath and thought to myself. How can I shift my perspective? How can I embrace this? It’s so easy to wish for summer or wish for the newborn stage to be over etc. We wish away the challenging stages of life instead of leaning into them. What if you found value and magic in all seasons of life? Life would feel so much easier and you could embrace all the shifts and twists that life throws you. If we embrace the season we are in, weather-wise or stage of life, we can live life to its fullest. Being grateful and happy with where you are at in life is a virtue worth seeking.
Embracing Winter and Darkness
Winter can be looked at as horribly dark and cold. We are stuck inside and the sun sets so early. Or you can use winter as a time to rest, reset, clean up your space, connect with your kids at home, play, bake, and watch movies. You can slow down and nurture your mind, body, spirit and connections. Learn a new winter sport, play in the snow, think like a child and find excitement in the first snowfall. When I was a child, I loved ice skating, but I hadn’t done it in years. I guess I was too busy in early adulthood and then I was teaching my kids to skate. This year I said I’m going to skate. I bought a pair and jumped on the ice with my kids. They were so happy and guess what? I LOVED it!! I’m a bit rusty, but I’m confident I can build the skill back up. Let that inner child have fun, be joyful and PLAY!!
Dark times in our lives can be so hard. It’s hard to see past them, you might feel like you are stuck and there’s no way out. Take a breath and know there is a way out. There’s always light after the dark. Even if the darkness lasts a long time. Your spring will always come. Try to sit with the pain, don’t escape it. What we resist persists and what we try to numb will come back even harder. Deal with your pain. Find the lesson you are meant to learn and know you are only given what you can handle. Each hard time is a lesson you MUST learn to get to be the person you are meant to be. Take it day by day and keep moving forward.
my Favourite Ways to Move through Challenging Seasons Without Escaping
- Exercise: Find something you enjoy and look forward to. I love yoga, barre, strength training and stretching. Fiton is the best exercise app and it’s free!!
- Walk in nature: Even on chilly mornings a power walk in nature is the best way to calm the mind and reset.
- Talk to someone you love: There’s nothing better if I’m feeling the winter blues!! Meet up with a friend and connect.
- Journal: Sit down and dump out your thoughts. I like to burn Palo Santo first.
- Clear the energy: Open the windows, set an intention and burn some sage. Clearing the energy of your home can be so helpful. After you are finished close the windows and burn Palo Santo to bring the good energy in. Remember Sage removes the negative and Palo Santo brings the good in.
- Read an inspirational book or watch a good show: I have been guilty of escaping and watching mindless TV. It might seem like a good way to go if you need to switch off, but escaping your feelings will only give you temporary relief. When I am intentional about what I watch and end up learning something I feel more equipped to handle the hard stuff life throws at me!!
Spring Will Always Come
I’m a firm believer that if you step through fear and are good to others you will always find your spring. Face your fears, sit in your pain, and learn from it. Challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone and find a way to serve others. Never stop learning and embrace life’s ups and downs. The hard roads are the ones worth taking.
xo Alayna
