Enjoying Life in the Seasons
One of my favorite things about the Lowcountry is spring. The dark and gray winter finally comes to an end. Cold weather is replaced with mild temperatures which we sure better enjoy before the scorching summer heat arrives. The days are getting longer. Daylight Saving Time, which moves the clock forward on March 14, gives us even more light hours to get things done. We step outside and are rewarded with a crescendo of bird song, a chorus of frogs, and a display of flowers bursting into colorful life. Spring gives us a feeling of boundless energy often referred to as “spring fever”. The therapeutic potential of spring is undeniable, from effecting the remission of Seasonal Affective Disorder to the increased production of Vitamin D. If we think about it, all of nature is filled with rhythms. The seasons of the year but also the ocean tide, sunrise, sunset…
Many facets of everyday life are governed by seasonal patterns as well as circadian rhythms — our internal biological clock. These are the rhythms of life. We can often overlook just how structured in seasons and rhythms our bodies and lives are. The first idea that probably comes to mind when you think of rhythm is music. All music has some type of rhythm or tempo. The rhythm of the song may be lively, joyful, soothing, or even mournful. If you miss a note, the song will sound bad for a moment. But if you miss the rhythm, the entire song is thrown off, and you are missing every note. In the same way, the rhythm of your life is the strong, regular beat of a few core things that you center your life around. It is the principles that influence your habits and schedule.
It is easy to fall into the trap of not enjoying the season we are in. Whether we are in a season as single, newlyweds, young parents, raising teenagers, empty nesters, retired, or anywhere in-between, the beauty of the season too often escapes us. The burdens and the stresses distract us. And we too easily miss the beauty of the rhythms of our lives. The seasons of life may change but the opportunity to embrace and enjoy the present season has not. You cannot create a meaningful rhythm of life unless you consider the kind of things this season offers to you. What are the important things we want to remember about our lives when we reach the end of a season?
What are three or four ways you would like to enjoy your season more? What are some ways you can work that into your current lifestyle? How you do that will determine your rhythm in the season. And more important, what can you do to help maintain the rhythm and revive your vibrancy?
“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.” ― Henry David Thoreau, Walden
Previously published in Hampton County Guardian Augusta Chronicle USA Today Network.