Winter has slowly crept its way in to New England. With it, the damp cold, deep cold, short day light hours, the first major snow, Christmas lights, and many layers.
I have never been a huge fan of winter. But I do appreciate the seasons. And without the winter of short days and frosty noses, summer would not feel quite as glorious. Additionally the ebb and flow of the seasons helps "change up" routine for us all. During the summer, it is easy to jump out of bed early to welcome the sun. In winter, the sun doesn't want to wake either.
With this, time is spent differently.... being creative, studying, reading, and visiting friends and family vs gardening, hiking, walking or other outdoor activities. Life ends out "looking" different.
So now facing the season ahead, I turn my eyes to reading more. In a recent read, "Didn't see That Coming" Rachel Hollis shares with frankness and humor how to embrace difficult periods in life for what they can be, a way to teach us. This book is about the seasons of life. Each of us will most likely have to face a "winter" season or two..darkness and pain will creep in. R. Hollis shares her stories to help us all learn how to find meaning in anything. We can not control what has happened to us in the past. But we can control how we choose to respond.
So, as the winter approaches, I take in the wisdom this little book has about big feelings. Quote : "It often takes a life-changing crisis to remind us which parts of life are worth living." Rachel Hollis shares the knowledge "what's been good, will always be good : the smell of coconut sunblock, a home cooked meal, a job well done, the kindness of strangers, a perfect cup of coffee with a view.'..... and one of the most awful, beautiful things about the hard seasons is that unless we experience hardship, we'll never truly appreciate and remember the good that was always good."
She also offers "tools" that have helped her in darker seasons of her life. For example:
*Setting intentions for a journey, whether it be to heal or for health, will help one stay present, able to experience the moment fully and process what may need processing.
*Getting someone to process with, judgement free. (I, personally, have a therapist and several good friends who I consider judgement free).
*Ask youself, is this real? Past experiences have a sneaky way of affecting our perspective on situations. Sometimes we need to check, did that "thing" really happen? "Our minds are incredibly powerful and if you are not careful just thinking about the possibility of something bad happening can make us feel as if something bad has happened."
Aptly said on the front cover, "'Didn't See That Coming' delivers hope that darkness and light can coexist."
With that said, I will welcome the winter this year and embrace it for what it can be, a way to teach me. Whatever it brings, I will look for tools to help and insight to guide.
To gain more of Rachel Hollis' wisdom, please check out 'Didn't See That Coming'.
Enjoy frosty noses and fresh snow!
All the best, Christina
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