What Have I Learned This Year About Myself?

I’m going to start by talking about myself and what I’ve learned. I’ve learned that I’m stronger than I give myself credit for. I’m resilient. I’m smart. And I’m determined. I suspect this will resonate with many of you. It should, because it is the truth. Learning to appreciate yourself is one of life’s greatest lessons. Always take the time to be present.

Let’s Start with the Winter Months It’s colder and darker. There’s snow and ice. We dress differently, leave more time for our morning routines, and spend more time indoors. Hmmm. Pretty crappy stuff. Traffic is held up by snow, and we always seem to be cleaning off the car. It may be a new year, but it’s the same old, same old. Bummer. Being present makes us aware of our surroundings, our place, and our challenges. We adapt to the weather. We make the darker hours work by cuddling on the couch and watching a show, having a glass of wine, or making soups, stews, meatloaf, and mashed potatoes. Our comfy pyjamas feel like heaven.

There’s the smell of a roast cooking in the oven. This is how we cope with and embrace the season. We celebrate Christmas, go shopping, make our homes festive, put up a tree, decorate, attend parties, and enjoy good food. Santa. Ho, ho, ho!

Now It’s Spring The grass starts to turn green. Leaves appear on the trees, and flowers poke out of the ground. So do our spirits. The skies are bluer, and the sun shines brightly. We smile when we hear the birds sing. We wear lighter clothing, open our windows, and buy tulips to put on the table. Soon, we will be looking for chocolate eggs. We start to garden, plant our vegetables, and prepare for the season. We embrace the opportunity to feel lighter and happier. Most of all, we get ready to see the world come alive after hibernating through the cold, dark winter months. We go to parks and watch dogs frolic, birds fly and build their nests, and people walk and jog. Everyone seems happier, renewed, and alive, just like the flowers and trees.

Here Comes Summer Fewer clothes. Hot days. Long days and later nights. Bikinis. Shorts. T-shirts. Swimming. Sunbathing. We spend more time outdoors, have barbecues, and invite friends over. There’s food, cold beer, wine, and pool parties. We have air conditioning to keep us cool. It’s strange how we don’t like the cold in the winter, but we run toward it in the summer! We spend more time in the sun. We take vacations and spend time with friends, children, and family. The children have the summer off from school. Our days may be filled with work, but we still make time for fun, sunshine, and weekend getaways. Some of us need to find camps, babysitters, and other activities to keep our children entertained while we work. But all the stress and strain are worth it. We live for the hot days, long nights, and blue skies.

Time to Fall into Fall This is my favourite time of the year. This season has a reason: change. The trees change. The leaves change. The time changes. We do it all. As the world outside changes, so do we on the inside. We add spice to our hot chocolate, make apple pie, and visit farms to pick apples and pumpkins. Our barbecues feature hot dogs, sausages, corn, and potatoes. And we wear plaid. LOL. We go for scenic drives to see the fall colours. We dress in warmer clothes and pack hot cider for our adventures. The crisp air inspires us to enjoy the warm sunshine against the cool breeze. It’s lovely. We take walks, look at the sky, and wonder what is in store for us. The nights arrive faster. We settle into a pattern as the changing temperatures and weather prepare us to begin the cycle all over again. We put on our snow tires, place a snow brush in the trunk, keep a shovel handy, and change the batteries in our smoke alarms. It’s magic.

What Have We Learned About Ourselves? The point is that we change and adapt naturally to the things that happen regularly. We have no issues and don’t even think about the fact that we have to do it. We simply do it. Our flexibility in thought, life, and our ability to change comes naturally. We see these tasks as a normal part of life. They are expected. So, what have we learned about ourselves? As human beings, we prefer routine. We prefer not having to change. We like keeping things in place. That’s why we sometimes stay in bad relationships, jobs, or careers longer than we should. Only when something becomes too far beyond our control do we take action. Our strength comes from adversity. It comes from the moments when we have to reach deep inside ourselves and just do what needs to be done. But we do it. Or, at least, we should. The human condition matches the seasons. We change. We grow colder. We heat up. We shine brightly. We have dark days filled with thunder, lightning, and snow. We experience the good, the bad, and the ugly. We do it all with ease because we know it instinctively. We are part of it.

Every time the seasons change, so do we. We learn. We grow. Our colours, moods, spirits, and tans change. We shed clothes just as trees shed their leaves. We cover ourselves just as flowers retreat in the fall and prepare for winter. Even our shopping carts are seasonal. We buy different fruits and prepare heavier, heartier meals. Salads become a side dish instead of the entire meal. We learn that we make changes all the time, every day, without thought, plans, or struggle. That means we trust ourselves to do the right things. We know our limits. We see our truth. We can accomplish any task. We are capable and trustworthy.

Even the makeup women choose changes with the seasons. Small things can produce big results. Know the true value of your actions. You make these changes without even thinking about them. You accommodate life’s differences with very little concern. What Have I Learned? To answer the question, what have I learned? I’ve learned that I have always done what needs to be done with ease. I can trust myself to handle the seasonal challenges, changing times, and need for something different. I’ve learned that the simple things make me happy. Most importantly, I’ve learned that I enjoy living the life I know, one season at a time. Embrace your life. Change with the seasons.

Diane Makarowski Life Coach, Menopause Coach, Author, Columnist https://www.facebook.com/diane.makarowski