After Winter Must Come Spring

With winter only seven days away (though freezing temperatures lately suggests it's already here!) I recall the symbolism the season evokes. The cheerful sun seems to be taken captive by the uncertainty of grey clouds and the biting chill in the air forces us to seek shelter and warmth. Harsh times are always synonymous with winter; worthy of retreat, a time to take cover.

I'm reminded of John Steinbeck's The Winter of Our Discontent, a story about a man of honesty and integrity who makes questionable choices in order to regain his lost fortune and standing in his community. When faced with our personal winters, when we feel the need to run for cover, hibernate, or find alternative means to guard us from the cold harsh storms of our lives, certain choices present themselves which if taken, can cost us dearly.

Our fight or flight instincts kick in as we go into survival mode. Degrees of survival techniques can range from stashing away cash for a rainy day to stomaching a travelling companion's thigh (ok a little dramatic). What's key is to recognize which situations call for which techniques. When our lives seem to spin on their axes away from the sun bringing the colder sides of reality to the forefront, it can appear to be a crisis of grand proportions. We are tempted to make choices we otherwise would not. Our thoughts zoom in on our own personal survival, and consequences may take a back seat.

It is always wise to take a moment or two to assess the situation and weigh the consequences of each choice, and we always have choices. Making rash, potentially selfish or detrimental decisions during our "winter of discontent," could leave us in worse condition than when we started. Nothing is ever as bad as it seems and change always comes.

As life evolves with the seasons, the world can be a cold place that chills us to the bone, and our hearts, if we let it. What we must remember is that the world keeps on spinning, changes continue to occur and after winter comes spring. So we can flee to warmer climates, chop our houses down and use them for firewood, or we can use every resource from thermal underwear to earmuffs to keep us warm until spring returns. Just remember, spring will return.