Day 2,856

Growth:

Change is inevitable. If we are fortunate to live long enough our lives are filled with seasons. We’re constantly moving from one season to the next and so on until we reach our end. As we move from each there’s bound to be some we enjoy more than others just as there are some we’d rather speed through as quickly as possible. Inside each season we have a gift, we have the choice to make of how we will view and respond to the season.

Regardless of what it throws at us will we find a way to grow through it, a reason to appreciate it, and a the strength to be present in it? That choice is ours to make and ours alone. We can do these three things through each regardless of how difficult the season may be.

Seasons will change. the ones we desire will never last as long as we’d like and the ones we would prefer to skip are still going to happen. We cannot change the continual changing of life, but we can choose how we respond to it.

Appreciation:

Over the past weekend we’ve spent so much time together as a family and it has been truly priceless. In the near future we head out on a family vacation to have another ten days of doing the same. What a wonderful way to prepare us for the next changing of seasons.

Throughout the past two weeks the weight of the changing seasons has been felt more intensely than I’d ever imagined it would. While I would prefer to keep everything just as it is right now I’m finding reasons to be thankful throughout. Three really jump out at me when I pause to reflect:

First off, we’ve spent so much time together as a family and in a deeper state of presence with each other than we have this intensely for quite some time. What a gift this has been to transition on such a high note and filled with so many memories!

Next, my emotions have been off the chart lately – for better and worse. I find myself being okay with being moved to tears at the loss of LuLu and Dominic leaving, but I’m also finding so much joy in knowing how fortunate we were to have so much time with LuLu and with Dominic. I’m so proud of the man Dominic has grown into and am looking forward to all of his upcoming adventures in life. There are also so many moments of deep satisfaction in pausing to look back at all we’ve been through as a family.

Last, I’m so thankful for my family helping me get through these changing seasons together. It feels as if we’ve grown closer and closer over the past couple of weeks which I wouldn’t have thought possible. Our family has become stronger specifically because of the changes we are all going through together. What a gift!!!

Yes, I am sad about life changing. Yes, I would like to keep everything exactly as it is for a while. But I can’t, nor would it be right if I could. Life changes, seasons pass. I must remember to stay focused on minding the GAP, choosing Growth, Appreciation, and Presence. That choice will fill my heart with joy throughout whatever closes and whatever happens next.

Presence:

Two moments of presence were very near and dear to me today.

This morning at the crossroads of two seasons changing at once I was rubbing LuLu’s belly with Gavin on the beach while watching Becky and Dominic play in the water. LuLu will be passing away within the next few days and Dominic will be moving out in exactly four weeks. This was most likely the final time the five of us would be on our pontoon at the same time (and we’re likely selling the pontoon within the next year). Spending a moment focused on both in the final throws of each of their seasons filled me with joy and brought back so many excellent memories.

At yoga tonight there was a special treat. One of the instructors brothers is in a small two person band who played music while we did our yoga practice. At the end of the session we were in final rest when they went into a song that rocked me to the core. The soul piercing vocals moved me to tears under the towel I had over my eyes. I can’t even begin to share just how beautiful the song was as it seemed to touch on all the exposed nerves from the changing of the seasons in my life. I will never forget that moment in all of its joy and emotion all rolled together. What a perfect way to help my brain come to grips with the changing of seasons in my life.

Thanks!!!