Appreciating Seasons of Life
I learned about the concept, “seasons of life,” in therapy and by scrolling self-help TikTok late at night. The phrase can mean different things depending on your usage of it but most commonly, it speaks to the ups and downs of life.
Along my journey or path, or whatever other buzzword you want to replace it with, I've come to understand that seasons of life aren’t like the smooth transition from summer into fall, with the leaves turning color and storefronts changing decorations. Seasons of life feel much more like a rollercoaster ride. They go up and down and backwards and sometimes they even loop in circles for a while. Even more challenging, they aren’t universal. We all go through them at different times, in different ways.
Last year was a tough year for me because I was living in constant change. There was limited stability in my personal, professional, or home life. I felt chaotic inside and out and I was going through it entirely alone. The unease was a part of my season and it had to be felt. My husband could try to comfort me, my family could be there to listen, and friends could distract me with fun activities but my mind was still a mess. Once I finally accepted that and leaned into the discomfort of the season I was in, I learned so much about myself.
Recently, I’ve started to feel a change of pace. The rollercoaster is now chugging along a new, flatter trajectory. One that is slow enough for me to take in my surroundings but fast enough for me to feel excited about the ride. Some of you may recognize this feeling, a sense of stability and calmness. Some of you may not yet, and trust me, I was there too. Wherever you are on your ride, I want to share 10 lessons that I got from my past season which may resonate with or encourage you:
There are a few golden people in my life who never judge me; keep them close.
Introspection serves me well.
Reading is useful when I feel lost.
Writing is useful when I feel clear.
I love to say something that I’m grateful for each day to no one else but myself.
Moving my body in a way that feels rejuvenating, not demanding, is the best thing for me.
It’s only embarrassing if I say it is.
There is power of staying curious, open-minded, and trusting.
I love to ask deep questions.
My life is a big adventure and with that comes ups and downs.
I share all this to say that a season of life is not anything like a calendar; you can’t plan for it or cross off the days until it arrives. When you do feel a shift, I hope you can allow yourself to move with it, even if it’s unpleasant at first. Maybe this concept can help bring you a deeper understanding of yourself, like it did me, or entice you to write down 10 things that you learned from a past chapter. Life’s seasons can be beautiful if you take the time to recognize them.
