Hi friends, thanks for joining me today! This will be a rather short – at least I think – edition of my mental health Monday post. Graduation weekend is in full swing here! We’ve had a very full couple of days with the culmination tonight as my son walks across the stage! I’m sitting here quietly typing as my coffee maker percolates and my oven bakes a breakfast casserole. Life is good! But as I read my daily devotional this morning I was reminded of the seasons of life and how just like the seasons of the year they change.
I have been a Licensed Mental Health Counselor since 1997. I do not currently practice as I work in school counseling but I’ll never let my license expire. My Monday posts have a little more of a mental health theme designed to help you think a little differently. While I am certainly not dispensing advice or treatment, I do hope these posts help you. Initially I started blogging as a creative outlet and as a way to empower women in midlife and beyond to dress and feel like the best version of themselves everyday. I have come to realize that a big part of that is how we feel about life circumstances. Hence the reason for these posts!
Seasons of Life Change
Over the last few months I have found myself giddy with joy on several occasions. Not because of anything in particular or any big event – just feeling happy and secure in my every day life. There’s nothing better!
But just as you start to feel your favorite season come to an end, these seasons of life change too. If you loved summer and basked in its glory, September rolls around and brings slight cooler temps. You feel the change. What do you do? Hopefully you bask in the remaining days of summer and start to prepare for fall. You might get your warmer clothes out for example and start to look forward to the joys the coming season will bring. It may not be summer with beach trips and pool days but you recognize what’s special and unique about fall.
When I worked for a public school system, in a brick-and-mortar school, I had summers off. I enjoyed every minute – even though the heat is brutal and oppressive, I loved the care free days. With no alarm and no schedule, the days unfolded and led me wherever I was meant to be. But soon after July 4th, the countdown would begin. Three weeks until work started back up. Then two, then one. I felt dread and started grieving the carefree lifestyle that summer break afforded me. Inevitably it would happen, that first day back to work. And you know what? I bounced back just fine. I got excited about the new year, about the students, about all the excitement of the first day of school. I kinda hated that I spent time dreading going back to work while I was at home and could enjoy my time off. Focusing on that ‘countdown’ kept me from full enjoying my time off.
All this to say, that if you find yourself sensing a change in your season of life, just know that seasons don’t last forever. Neither do hard times or challenges. They eventually come to an end. You have survived hard times and challenges in the past and you will do it again. Even if this new challenge, or season you are anticipating is the toughest one yet, use those same skills to get through it. You absolutely can do it. Look forward to and embrace the new season, you’ll learn something, you’ll become stronger, you’ll get through it.
I hope you find this helpful- maybe someone you know needs to hear this too. Feel free to share it.
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- Seasons of Life Change
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