Learning through reflections in nature

Photograph: Unsplash.com

Text: Aina Masood

Seasons: Nature's way of making us understand the transitions in life!

Like seasons, life changes and sometimes, we must witness the trees losing all their leaves and covered with frost before the flowers make their way. One season is followed by the next with its unique challenges and gifts. Life has similar cycles; it's a process - I believe in the processes of nature and life. We have our springs and winters, our summers and autumns, and hope that one will be followed by the other.

Let's say, for example, right now, your life is like winter. The wind is overpowering, and it is cold and dark. You feel confused, and your world is bewildering. When you feel this way, remember to be kind; remember to sit back and engage in activities that help you connect with yourself because nature tells our bodies to relax and conserve energy. It urges us to slow down, to take a step back to renew our energies for the spring and summer times. So, like a blessing in disguise, winter and autumn are the time for you to replenish. Similarly during hardships in life, we learn valuable lessons, form bonds by sharing our vulnerabilities and learn skills that help us reach our potential when it is time for our spring and summer.

During the spring and summer times, we feel energetic, on the go and motivated. The flowers, for which the seeds were sown, start blossoming and fill the air with beautiful scents. You are reaping the benefits of reserving your energy. Spring and summer are the time of outward action and growth. Although they are beautiful, consider them to last forever. An endless summer will scorch the soil of its fertility, and it will eventually burn you out. As George Santayana once said, "To be interested in changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring".

"To be interested in changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring." - George Santayana

In conclusion, I will say that the cyclic nature of seasons is essential to life. If only one or two were to persist, things will eventually lose their charm and perish. Similarly, in life, it is unnatural to be feeling happy and upbeat all the time. The highs and the lows are there to serve a purpose, and it is our responsibility to find out what it is. To do that, sometimes, we need to adjust the lens we are using to view them. If we only complain and blame things for being how they are, there is little room for change, but we are already working towards betterment if we try to accept and acknowledge things. All we need is a renewed perspective on things and a reaffirmation that there are times to act and times to rest. Listen to your body's cues (like signs of changing seasons) and help yourself recognise what you need to do.