Appreciate the seasons of your life

Find Beauty in Your Present Moment

If you live in the South, or have been around older individuals, you may have heard the phrase: “those were the good ole days.” Some use this phrase when reflecting upon a past season of their lives.

One irony in life is that people tend to miss what has passed. However, when they were in the actual moment, they did not recognize or appreciate the beauty that it offered. It’s only after time has past, that they reflect on the good moments.

Let’s be honest, life is hard. Creating a life that you are proud of requires work, effort, and sacrifice. It’s not for the faint of heart, and the reality is that most of life can be somewhat mundane. Yes, we have those exciting moments. But, for most people, everyday life is quite ordinary. It consists of work, set schedules, routines, and chores; which is not very exciting stuff. However, we have to accept that this is life.

There are some that refuse to accept the simple, mundaneness of life. Instead, they chase after that all too fleeting euphoric high. However, in doing so, many create havoc; not only in their own lives, but also in the lives of their families. This happens because, in the chase of a euphoric high, they often neglect their responsibilities. Simply put, they are selfish. Please don’t misunderstand me. There’s nothing wrong with doing things that you enjoy, we all should; just not to the extent that we neglect our responsibilities.

I think that to truly be content, we have to embrace the simplicity of life, and to see it’s beauty.

It’s all too easy to get into a pattern where you’re simply rushing through the seasons of your life, without appreciation for the season itself. It usually goes something like this: “I’ll be glad when…” I would argue that most likely you won’t, because there is rarely a season in life that is without difficulty or challenge. We waste so much of our lives wanting, and desiring, the season that’s just over the horizon. And when that season arrives, we see its imperfections, and begin to desire the next season, continuing the same pattern of behavior. In the process, we are missing the beauty offered in the present moment, because we’re too preoccupied in looking for what is just over the horizon.

Accept life for what it is, and embrace the beauty in the seemingly mundane.