As I woke up this morning, I realized that today is officially the first day of Spring. I could hear the birds chirping and see the sun shining brightly through my bedroom window. I’m thinking that today is going to be a beautiful day for a walk until I opened the front door. What it looked like standing on the inside of the house and what it felt like standing on the outside of the house were totally different. Anybody that truly knows me, knows that I am cold natured and a blanket or some source of heat is always near. Yes, I’m the same woman that uses her fireplace in her office all year long. Don’t judge me! I began to think about the fact that it is technically Spring, but it feels more like Winter. Only in Alabama can we experience all four seasons in one week. This reminds me that we all experience different seasons in our lives at one time or another.

Let’s think about the person that may be experiencing a Fall season right now, where things are falling off and changing.  A time in which you are shedding some things that you simply don’t need, whether you think you do or not. Things that are causing you to be unproductive or stagnant.  You may be feeling bare, cutoff and exposed but this is just a time of pruning in your life. It’s just like pruning a tree and preparing it for the next season, in which increase and growth will take place. Pruning does not feel good, neither does it look good, but it is necessary for growth. We are being prepped to replace, replenish or reproduce more than before but it needs to take place at the right time.

The person experiencing a Winter season may be feeling isolated, cold, barren and bitter. When it is extremely cold outside and we are not properly dressed we can experience hypothermia and even develop frostbite. Neither of those things feel good and could be life threatening situations, but we must do what is necessary to make it through those frigid times. We must put on the coat, gloves, scarf, hat and boots to make sure we are properly covered. We can live to see another day, another season. Even though it may not be my favorite time of the year, I learned to adjust to this time of the year because it is happening whether I want it to or not. We should do everything we can to survive because we know that in due time this season will pass.

The person experiencing a Spring season right now may be a little agitated due to the pollen but hopeful. The pollen negatively affects many of our allergies and causes some more discomfort than others. But with the proper medication this season is tolerable. It is all in how you manage it. When it is time to change the clocks, I remember to spring forward (move up an hour)) and fall backward (move back an hour). Spring is a time to reset, renew and refresh some things. We can open the windows and let the fresh air flow through our homes that have been closed all winter, plant beautiful flowers and do some spring cleaning. Just because we fall back sometimes does not mean we will never spring forward again.

The person experiencing a Summer season is experiencing a time of warmth, happiness and freedom. During this season we tend to vacation more because the weather is typically good for all occasions. We see all the convertibles on the road, with the tops down, people riding with the wind blowing through the hair, music blasting, the beaches are crowded, the cruises are booked, the grills are smoking, family and friends are gathered and everything just feels good! Everything just feels right! It’s all good in the neighborhood! It’s just something about the summertime that says it’s time to relax, enjoy life and have some fun! This is the time of the year we work hard for during the Winter, Fall and Spring seasons.

Just know that whatever season you are in right now is only temporary. We have to take the good seasons with the not so good seasons and realize that the bad seasons are necessary to help us appreciate the good seasons. Let’s be mindful and not make permanent decisions based on temporary feelings or situations. You may be experiencing an unpleasant season right now but just know that YOUR season of joy, peace, prosperity or whatever you are looking for are on the way. Change is inevitable, therefore we must make the necessary adjustments.  Do whatever you need to do to make it through those unpleasant times. I am reminded of something that my grandmother would say, “Hang in there and see what the end is going to be”. I promise it is going to be worth it. Whatever you may be going through, it may not feel good or look good but if you just stay the course your season will change in DUE TIME.