WEATHER

Today was a seasonably cold autumn day.  It was really felt because for the past few days it was in the mid 70's.  So, it got me thinking how life is similar to the weather.  Lets start with winter.  Winters are cold and dreary.  It is common in this time of year to get snow or freezing rain.  There isn't much of anything growing in the winter.  In fact, plants go through a period of dormancy where they stop growing along with the falling temperatures and reduced day length.  I guess about the only thing that seems to not have a problem growing in the winter is people's weight and waist line.  Just being humorous!  But, if you really think about it, in life you will metaphorically have a winter.  It is unavoidable.  It is part of learning and growing. I am referring to adversity in a person's life.  When trouble hits, such as, sickness, financial turmoil, getting fired from a job, the children aren't listening, maybe your favorite team is having a losing year, maybe the person you voted for lost the election, maybe your neighbors are not friendly etc..., and nothing seems to be going your way.  To me this is similar to a winter.  however, what is guaranteed after a winter is spring, is it not?  In the spring time, it starts to get warm but it's not too hot.  The weather seems perfect!  The days are longer and the sky is brighter and plants start to grow again.  People in general are friendlier.  There are many more outdoor activities going on.  Individuals are wearing lighter and brighter clothing to reflect the changing weather.  There is a spring (no pun intended), in an individual's walk. Things are looking great.  And, like in life, after you get over a problem, (winter), things will start to look better, (spring).  It has to, that's how life works in every aspect.  Think about it, you loose your job and you find a better one.  A plague appears and a vaccine is developed.  Your favorite sports team can't win a game so they clean house and start all over and they become a championship team.  Your partner breaks up with you and you find a better compatible relationship.  You gain weight but then not only do you lose the weight you gained but in the process you acquire better eating and workout habits.  I can go on but you get the picture.  It will not permanently remain winter.  However, after spring, comes summer without a doubt.  
 In the summer plants hit their peak.  And, most individuals like plants do the same.  Everything seems to be on cruise control.  The weather is warm which can lead to complacency.  This can be the result of  either taking things for granted or because they are burnt out from the warm weather.   Growth starts to slow down almost to a stalemate.  By now some just want the temperature to cool off because they simply have had enough.  They want or  feel like they need a change.  In fact, they too stop growing at this stage.  They figure out, right or wrong, that they have done enough to take them through the rest of the year.  They let their guard down.  This is a dangerous stage for growth because they metaphorically have given up unknowingly.   They erroneously think they need an eternal condition like a change in weather to make them feel alive.  They stop  growing possibly because they are too busy making last minute summer plans.  They forget that they are making summer plans because of the growing and blossoming they accomplished in the spring.  Then comes fall.  In the fall individuals fail to adequately prepare for the winter.  They stop growing internally and spiritually.  At this stage in life they are the farthest away from their source so therefore, are working from a conscious only perspective.  This is the stage where, for example, the company that they work for is acquired by another company and they get blind sided because they have failed to plan in anticipation that they can lose their job.    In other words, they fall in the trap most individuals fall into  when they say, "I'll see it then, I'll believe it," instead of saying I believe it so therefore, I'll see it,' when it comes to everyday life adventures.   In the fall they are ill prepared to deal with a cold winter.  This is the stage where individuals are creating a recipe for serious problems when adversary (winter), knocks.  I would bet that drug use, alcohol and violence are an end result.  At this stage in a person's life, It would seem inevitable to me, to lead to serious problems because there is no other purpose other that the superficial, exterior existence of the individual.  The real being of who we really are, which is a spiritual being is ignored.  Happiness for this individual is fake.  It is all external stimulus.  In other words, once the high of the alcohol or drug wears off, they still have to deal with the self.  And until that part of the individual is understood and addressed then, there will always be a need for external gratification and, no real solutions.
 Moreover, I don't want to leave the reader with a doom and gloom picture about life.  Life, like the seasons, is a circular endeavor.  The seasons come and go.  Some winters are harsher than others.  But for sure, spring will come.  As aforementioned, the seasons are similar to life.  Spring will always follow winters and, fall will always follow summer.  The seasons will always continue.  Life will always do what life does.  We can not control life as, we can't control the seasons but, we can prepare for both so when they both do what they are supposed to do, we can be prepared.  Life is a beautiful gift given to us by the powers to be.  But, we have to appreciated it, anticipate and prepare for the winters so that springs will surely arrive.  I leave you with a quote on point by Jared Brock; "There is a season for everything under the sun-even when we can't see the sun."
    Just a thought.
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