It is true that the changing of seasons is a physical signifier of an environmental new beginning. A prime example of this is the change from winter to spring and summer, which are all ones that we look forward to as we watch the world around us transform and come to life again. For many, this change is a chance to start anew in a more personal way. We break out new clothes, and we plan new activities, and we suddenly feel a little more free to do anything. It’s an emotional breath of fresh air. However, it is also true that despite the assurance of this change, it is not immediate.
I took note of this once on an afternoon walk after a particularly rough day. As an introvert, it’s easy to get wrapped up in my own mind, and I find that taking walks outside during any moment, but particularly when I am not feeling happy, always teaches me something new. It serves as a much-needed reminder to me that there is a quiet but ever-present world outside of humanity that is existing in its own rhythm. My racing thoughts suddenly feel less pressing in comparison as I take in the teachings of nature. On this day, the lesson was in the trees.
I walked in awe the entire time because as I passed through, I noticed that all of the trees were half dead and half coming to life. This may not seem like anything new or groundbreaking since trees tend to do that often, but at that moment, my understanding of it was profound because it was the perfect analogy for how I felt being reflected in nature.
If you have emotionally gone through a long winter and then you finally begin to feel warmth again, there is an adjustment period that needs to happen. While some areas of your life may begin to flourish, others may still be withered and dried out. That is the beauty of the process, and it’s okay. I learned from the trees that blooming again after a winter happens in transition, not all at once. Some branches may still be bare, but the growth of a bud leads to the development of a full-blown flower eventually. So show up, and show up, and show up again. Allow the experience to happen whether it be a figurative death, whether it be a rebirth, or whether it be growth because it is all just a part of life.
