Seasons - Thoughts for a rainy day.

A turn of weather...A turn of events...A mark of time...A time of change.

Seasons are marked in many ways. The dates on the calendar that follow the equinox, the holidays that become the unofficial start and end of summer, various religious celebrations/observances, etc. mark the turn of annual seasons many linked to agrarian activities of life or recurring astronomical events. Others talk of the seasons of life...these are often defined by milestones, either significant birthdays or life changing events.

What do seasons really mean, what do they feel like? Perhaps thinking about how something feels is a bit more abstract than easily identifiable dates or events, but I believe it may be more relevant. For example the Shakespeare himself made the reference as "Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this sun of York." as a reference to the passing of a time of unhappiness.  In current events the media has taken to referring to the various uprisings in the Middle East as the “Arab Spring” (Tunisia and Egypt) and the “Arab Winter” (Bahrain, Libya, Yemen, Syria).

Whatever the differences among these references, the commonality is change...and more often than not emotionally charged change. The references to the Arab Spring and Winter reflect a sentiment of the writer toward improvement or decline; while not everyone shares the same perspective on these events the reference is clear that feelings are tied to seasons. Winter is semantically sad and Spring is hopeful, Summer joyous, and perhaps Fall (not often used) would be festive or indulgent.

I have often thought of these various references in my own life, both professionally and personally. Seasonally I am a bit of an optimist, I don't suffer greatly from a seasonal effective disorder or dread one annual season...begging for it to end. I try to look for engaging activities in each. I think the cultivation of an active mind and an active life is the best way to weather the change that comes with whatever type of season you encounter.  Don't get me wrong, I have had my sadness and joy...my success and failure.

Seasons bring expectations...not always good, but we expect things to be a certain way in the next season. Either because it was that way in the last 'summer' or 'winter'; or because we have some ideal or dread we perceive will be come to pass in that new season. Expectations are necessary, but thorny concepts; as children perhaps we were told not to have such 'high hopes' or some read or were told about Pollyanna. The counterpoint in literary reference might be Pandora. These archetypal references to good and evil, hope and fear; speak to a caution upon expectations. Expectations are either learned or taught; and it is this lesson that we must continue to learn. To hope something will be better or to fear that it will be worse; pollyanna or pandora, it is perhaps expectations more than anything that lead to the way one feels about that next season. This brings me to another lyrical reference, this time by the late great Harry Chapin: "...Season's spinning round again; The years keep rollin' by. It seems like I've been here before; I can't remember when..."

Here I sit today as the weather has turned cooler and rain keeps pouring down, thinking about seasons. The weather brings to mind the changes that I've come to expect as summer comes to a close; events in my own life and in the world around me offer opportunity for expectations of what is to come...some fearful, some exciting; time brings inevitable change on any scale marking milestones and memories; change is coming whether we desire it or not. As a friend once said to me something along the lines of "worrying is a waste of time; I think I'll just wonder how things are going to turn out."  I choose to replace worry with wonder.

The seasons will change and I feel grateful that I am here to see that change.