When Seasons Change, So Do We

By: Tajiya Holland

Red, orange, yellow, and green-topped trees excite me as I see them sway in the distance. The crisp cool breeze brushes against my cheeks. Hot apple cider warms me up between my palms. Freshly baked pumpkin bread fills the air with an aroma I’ve been longing for; the taste of it is more delectable than I had imagined. I hear the crunching of hardened leaves beneath my feet as I walk into autumn! These are some of what we sense during this time of year, but what do seasons truly bring us? Change is always continuous; as we enter and exit different periods of the year, our lives shift along with it.

Firstly, many parts of our exterior everyday lives are affected by the seasons, such as what we do, what we wear, where we go, what we eat, etc. In autumn, we hunt for the cutest layering pieces as it’s chilly in the mornings and nights, yet warm during the day. We are outside as much as we can to pick pumpkins and apples before hunkering down for winter. In the winter, we bundle up in the fuzziest of socks by the fire as we stare through the window at glistening white snow. An abundance of both rain and sunshine let us know spring has sprung. Tulips pop up, and the animals come outside to play as so do we! We put on swimsuits and bright-colored sundresses as we head down to the shore for beachside picnics and barbeques during summer. So how do these exterior conditions relate to how we are internally affected?

Secondly, “humans have an internal clock powered by light which provides us with cues that influence things like our alertness, and melatonin levels.” This operation can then affect other systems in our body, such as our metabolism and serotonin production. There is less sunlight during the day in the autumn and winter months. Throughout this time, the body produces more melatonin (regulates the sleep/wake cycle) and less serotonin (regulates mood), which inevitably can make you feel pretty crappy! As this is an unfavorable view, these months also accompany holidays favored by many. Halloween, Thanksgiving (in the U.S.), Christmas, and New Year influence the positive and upbeat outlook during these seasons.

While in spring, it rains a lot, many can feel down and sad these days, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is commonly present. Though with good comes the bad, on warm, sunny days, people’s spirits lift. Summertime seems to be when most are happy and present in their daily life, due to more daylight and warmer weather. Camping and hiking trips, beach and park days, and summer vacations create nostalgic memories for many. At times though, the summer heat creates exhaustion and sluggish behavior in some. Taking what we know now, what can we do to adjust these seasonal situations?

Lastly, view the cycles of the year as a time guide for happenings in your life. Taking note of the symbolism in nature will give you instructions and clarity of what’s occurring and what is to come.

Autumn assists us to wind down. There’s quite a bit that goes on in nature. As leaves turn colors and fall, the appearance of our surroundings changes. Other symbols are the temperature dropping, animals preparing for winter, and an equal amount of daylight and nighttime. Understand that alterations continue to occur in our life as we develop each day. In autumn, we begin to run out of energy, which is normal. Prepare your space at home to provide comfort and protection not only for your physical self but for your peace of mind as well. Find balance with your work and within yourself. If you feel overwhelmed with too much on your plate, it’s perfect timing to exchange your priorities. At times we can get caught up with light, the good, always trying to do good, but what good is any of that without recognizing the dark, our faults? Getting to know and understand both will only benefit our individual growth.

Winter motivates you to find your wants and needs. Snow is what most relate winter to as it’s quite beautiful and awe-inspiring to watch it fall and be still and glisten in the sunlight. Its texture is unlike any other substance as it possesses motion but isn’t in a liquid state nor frozen. Other symbols are the cold, holidays, less daylight, and dormant, frozen nature. You can finally sit back, relax, and think. Things are still moving but at a much slower pace. Look back at all you’ve achieved thus far, discover what didn’t work, and make adjustments for plans ahead. Connect with friends and loved ones, being reminded of the sincere qualities of life and what’s important to you.

Spring is your fresh start. The land is now fertile. Plants are sprouting, flowering, and blossoming. Finally, grey skies occasionally become blue, and the grass appears so green. Other symbols are eggs and rainbows. Manifest your new beginnings and direct your life how you please. Begin a new project, create new relationships, do a bit of spring cleaning to rid of unwanted items. Not only in nature, but in life, there is so much to look forward to as it becomes more colorful, refreshing, and energetic.

Summer kicks things into high gear. Sunshine brightens everything up, sustains and nourishes life on Earth. Other than the sun, symbols of summer are bodies of water, yellow, and vacation. Listen to your heart as it wants to feel young again. Be joyous in every moment you embark on an adventure. Be free and wander to wherever, whenever. You have endless pages of an open book ready to be filled; no worries if you paint off the edges, or need three pages just for one day. Feed your soul with fun and excitement.

There are numerous factors to make up a thriving life, and it varies from person to person. Some may include connections with others, creativity, positive image, love, money, skillsets, and education on their list. There’s no one way to live it, and there are many variables that affect individuals personally, such as time, age, society, and location. Change is inevitable, and seasons are a part of the process. Change itself is not solely controlled by your doing, but recognizing outside pulls and pushes aids in working towards and receiving what we want and need with ease and peace.