Sunday, November 25, 2012

Finding my way back to Fall....

Saying that I loved or even liked the fall season is not something that was in my vocabulary for the last few years; In fact, last year during the end of summer I had 3 dreams, nightmares rather, of looking out my window only to find all of the trees without leaves.  Skinny brown branches covered in a clear, frozen frost were all that remained.  I woke up so relieved it was a dream, yet left with the realization that a new season would soon be approaching.  A season that meant colder weather and shorter days.  Long, dark evenings were a big fear of mine and added immensely to my anxiety, so having daylight disappear at 5:00 p.m. was more terrifying to me than I could ever put into words.  Due to anticipating what was to come, I didn't pay attention to the beauty of fall.  But that has all changed this year!  Why?  Simply put, because I have changed.  I've learned and continue to learn how to enjoy the things that are in front of me and not worry about what's ahead.  Because of this new found outlook, I have come to see a side of fall that I ignored for so long.  I now notice and love the color of the leaves and even though they fall off of the trees, I don't focus on bare branches; instead, I see how pretty the ground looks with swirls of orange, red, and gold.  Even when the darkness comes, I choose to see a beautiful sky filled with stars rather than an overshadowing cloud of doom. 

I guess the life lesson I discovered is to relish in the present.  How many times do we look ahead anticipating what's to come and then miss the moment we are in?  Most times the things we are fretting over don't turn out as bad as we thought or don't ever happen, which results in us spending our time worrying over nothing and all the while blind to the beauty that we were surrounded by. 

While I am thankful for so many things this year, I am grateful for a renewed trust in God.  A trust that assures me that I am not alone no matter what season of life I'm in, and all I need to do is take one day at a time. Spring and summer will always be my favorite seasons, but I can now say without a doubt that I am fully content in all of them.  I tell myself, "No matter what may come my way, God is with me today." Whatever "season" of life you're in right now be sure to fix your mind on the positive things you have, not the possible outcomes that may or may not happen.  Always do your very best to live in the present because that's really all you have.  The past is gone and tomorrow is not promised. 

Have a great day everyone and remember to walk in love and speak in peace!

Anita