Embracing the Seasons of Life: A Personal Reflection

Nope, I’m not talking about winter, spring, summer, or fall. I’m talking about the seasons of life. Oooo, I felt that one, did you? Seasons of life.

We often get caught up in the day-to-day hustle and bustle, hardly noticing the changes we undergo daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly. It’s almost been a year since I returned to Grand Bahama, and I’m happy and grateful to say that the woman I was 9 months ago is not the woman I am today. That’s because of the seasons of life. When was the last time you took a moment to reflect on your life’s journey?

This thought came to mind as I remembered the photo I took of a wood rose—a vine that starts off as a funnel-shaped flower that, once dried up, retains its beauty. When I thought of that photo, I recalled a conversation I had with a friend the day before. She told me about the bougainvillea trees blossoming beautifully and suggested I capture a photo of them. Even if I didn’t use it right away, I’d have it for later.

Wood Rose

Wood Rose

The above wood rose photos were taken in February. I went back to the same location recently, and below is what I found. I quickly noticed that they weren't as plentiful as during my initial visit, and the remaining ones were more shriveled and not as intact.

Wood Rose

Wood Rose

I’ve been watching a specific tree in our yard—a guava tree. My Grammy (may she continue to rest in peace) was well known for two things: guava duff and baked bread. In March, this particular tree was producing guavas. I found it odd to see either a few guavas hanging or some on the ground. This was short-lived; soon, the whole tree went bare. No fruit, no leaves—just naked branches. I remember thinking, “Oh boy, I guess no more guavas this year.” About two weeks later, the leaves began to form. By April, the tree was covered in leaves. Just last month, I started noticing the fruit beginning to form. If you’ve ever seen fruit or vegetables forming on a tree, it’s a beautiful sight to witness.

Guava with Leaves

Guava Tree

Guava with Leaves & Flower

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My Takeaway

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Just like trees have seasons, so do our lives!

• Fall: Leaves turn color and begin to fall (shedding)

• Winter: No leaves, branches are bare (dormancy)

• Spring: Leaves begin to grow (renewal)

• Summer: Fruit is formed (harvest)
  

Some days are better than others, but with self-reflection, you can see the obstacles you’ve overcome and how far you’ve come.

Just because you’re planted in a place doesn’t mean your roots are grounded. If you feel it’s time to move, shift, or change the scenery (and you will know), do it. As a side note on the “you will know” part—I didn’t believe people when they said that until I experienced it myself. It’s true: when you know, you know.

No matter what season you are currently in, remember the key element with seasons—they change!

Until next time...

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