My Take On The Seasons Of Life

There is an article in this month's Ensign magazine titled "Saints For All Seasons", and it talks about how each of us experience sunny and stormy times of life. As I began reading, I recalled a few months back when I was pondering the concept of seasons. Summer had just begun to roll in and I thought of the excitement of spending lazy sunny days at the pools, enjoying BBQs and celebrating Independence Day. The further I dove into these traits of summer, the more interested I became in the qualities of each season and how they apply to our lives. This season analogy is a different twist than the article by Dieter Uchtdorf, but I found it valuable in helping me enjoy the season I am currently in.

I hope as you read though my thoughts you understand that this is a generalization. It made sense in my mind, for my life. If it doesn't apply to you I'd love to hear in the comments how you could change it to make it work. What aspects of the seasons apply to your life and what season do you think you are in now? I find it very therapeutic to meditate over these things, especially to create analogies between nature and our lives. 

SPRING

Birth, beginnings, new life, new start.

We enter this world as tiny babies and immediately begin to experience change and rapid growth. Just as infinite varieties of flowers and plants quickly bloom and grow, we are learning and experiencing a new world. I imagine the spring of our lives as the time we experience the most physical growth and learning.

I see the varieties and colors of the flowers and hear the sounds of new animals and critters. There is so much to take in, all the senses can be overloaded in spring. To me this relates to our childhood, how exciting and sometimes overwhelming it can be. 

SUMMER

Heat, work, struggle.

During this phase of our lives we are trying to establish ourselves. We are still learning but often it is through great trials or experiences that stretch us. Difficult times might be the result of our own choices, whether good or bad. We are learning more about who we are and what is truly important. This is a time of career establishment, building lasting relationships, and having children. In my own life, becoming a mother has been the biggest challenge ever. It's even more hardcore than the Industrial Design program at CSULB (which I thought nothing would rival). But as I go through these times of work and struggle, I emerge stronger and ready to face the next challenge. I wouldn't trade it for anything because I believe that the purpose of life is to improve, learn, and refine ourselves.

Just like the actual summer where we brave the heat in order to enjoy the beach, pool, BBQs etc., in the summer of our lives we understand that the rewards far outweigh the challenges.

FALL
Slowing down, empty nest.

As our children grow and leave the house, things slow down in a sense. Leaves fall from the trees and blow away in many directions, so too our children leave our care for the lives they choose to live.

Hopefully, by this point, we have learned quite a bit and developed many interests. Our souls continue to attain more depth, just like the deep and highly saturated colors of the trees. We feel excitement for what is to come, and we sit back a moment to enjoy the apple cider and pumpkin pie of life.

WINTER
Stillness.

Perhaps the most still part of life, where we grow old and are often alone. The bright snow reflects in a way that no other season can, each tiny crystal of ice shining light toward us. This is like our memories as we reflect back on how our life was...hopefully one of joy and service. Hopefully one with few regrets.

I hope that when we get to that point, the snowflakes of our lives will be reflecting another sun, the Son of God. By following him in each season of our lives, we will have peace, purpose, true happiness, and satisfaction.

New Love

Haven't we all experienced that feeling of new love?

Those first moments of a budding relationship where we can't stop thinking about that person and we love the idea of who they might be.

Or when a baby is born into our family, our hearts burst and we feel as though a second heart has grown inside our own, making room for all the love we have for them.

The same holds true for friendships. On rare and treasured occasions we might meet someone whose presence both calms and excites us. We feel a connection with them and a desire to get to know them. But at the same time don't we feel an inkling that we already knew them? We might want to express this love, but we hold back for fear of "freaking out" our newfound friend. Our deepest hope is that they feel the same way toward us.

When we think about this new friend we feel an overflowing joy in our hearts. It's hard to explain, really, but overall it is a deep and real feeling. We love them already. We have hopes for what they might be like as we get to know them. We imagine them in the best possible light since we probably haven't seen any of their flaws. This love is without judgement, without any strings attached. It is pure love.

Last night as I thought this concept over it occurred to me that, perhaps, this new love comes closest to the way God loves us...his children. He sees our greatest potential and loves us through all the mistakes that we make. He desires us to live our lives in a way that would bring us happiness. He wants us to turn out to be as incredible as he knows we can.

Remember,

"...let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

1 John 4:7-8

Get What You Want: An Experiment

I have an experiment for you to try. I tried without even realizing and it totally worked. Ok ready?

Start thinking about some of the things you want right now. A better job or maybe to not have to work at all? A certain item you've been wanting to purchase for yourself? An opportunity you're hoping for? A resolution for some conflict? A relationship you want to improve? Ok this is starting to sound like a pile of fortune cookies. Stop.

Stop thinking about yourself.

Step two...think about someone you can help. It doesn't have to be some big bold service project. Maybe you just need to put a little more focus into letting your spouse know how awesome they are. Maybe you've noticed someone that could use a friend, a phone call. What about smiling at the cashier who helps you at the store, and genuinely asking them how their day is going?

Random side note: I was at the grocery store a few weeks ago and the woman in front of me asked the cashier how she was doing. The way she asked really let this cashier know that she cared, so the woman told her about how hard her morning had been and that she still had a long day at work. The customer paid her bill and started shuffling through her grocery bags. Finally she tears open a box and pulls out a skinny cow ice cream sandwich. She hands it to the cashier and says, "I hope your day gets better."

That is what I'm talking about! If that customer had been thinking about her own problems she would have missed the opportunity to brighten someone's day. And not only did she affect the cashier, she inspired me. I had been trying to put my focus on others but when i saw this amazing woman I realized I have a long way to go.

Now back to you. Do you have some ideas on how you can shift the focus from yourself to those around you? Good. That is the experiment. 

Here is the anticipated result: 

When [you] look first to the interests of others, [you] improve more rapidly [yourself].*

Those things that you want so badly in life, that you would do anything for...they will come faster when you STOP trying to get them. If you genuinely try to spend your time helping your friends and anyone you can, the things you wanted will come. And you know what else? You might not even want some of them once you shift focus. However, when you start to notice that things are working out rather nicely without you arranging them, be grateful, feel His love.

"… Let your minds be expanded to comprehend and look after the interest of your friends that are around you, and where it is in your power to secure benefits to your friends do so, and in so doing you will find that those things which you need will come into your hands quicker than if you labor entirely to secure them to yourselves independent of regarding the interests of your friends."

*Teachings of the presidents, Lorenzo snow (Chapter 22: Doing Good to Others)