The Seasons of Our Lives

Ralph Waldo Emerson said that, “Each moment of the year has its own beauty.” This is also true for the seasons of our life. Childhood, like spring, is a time of exploration when everything is fresh, new, and exciting. The summer of our lives, adulthood, is a time when we’ve left the nest and forge ahead with careers, marriage, and having our own children.

Autumn is our middle age, a time to reflect and relax. The leaves change just as our bodies do as we get older. The days become shorter and we instinctively know it’s time to reserve our energy for what matters and make every moment count, for winter, and old age, will soon arrive.

My client Betty, age 93, had lived through many changing seasons. “I’ve learned to embrace all of it, even winter,” she told me. “If all we did was focus on the negative, we would dread every day. We wouldn’t appreciate spring because we’d focus on pollen and allergies. We wouldn’t like summer because of the heat and humidity. And we wouldn’t appreciate the beauty and comfort of autumn if we focused on the coming winter. I make the most of every season, because one of them – someday – will be my last.”

When you make the most of every season, you live your life to the fullest. Here are ways to appreciate the autumn and winter of our lives:

• Enjoy the everyday, simple things in life. Making cookies with the grandkids, reading a good book, talking to a cherished friend…treasure these moments.
• Make a habit of practicing gratitude daily. Reflecting on what we’re grateful for improves our quality of life no matter how old we are.
• Perform acts of kindness. It can be sending a note of appreciation to a friend or letting someone cut in front of you in line. You might be surprised at how good it makes you feel.
• Accept change. As we age, we may lose some physical abilities but we’ve also gained valuable life experience and have learned to overcome adversity.
• Be good to yourself. Forgive yourself for mistakes you have made in the past.

Enjoy the seasons of your life and the changes they bring as they create memories of a life well lived!

If you or someone in your family are facing aging challenges, please give us a call at 561-291-3699 or email us at info@palmbeachcaremanagement.com. We’ll be happy to assist!