As we embark on another autumn, I have been reflecting upon the different seasons.
For those of us who live in a part of the world where the seasons change, we often have a preference for one over the other. Some love the cool crispness of fall and don’t enjoy the heat of summer while others revel in the flowers of spring and hibernate to avoid winter’s bite. We all have our likes and dislikes, things we lean towards and those we try to avoid. I find that trying to appreciate the beauty of seasons that aren’t my favorite, like lingering on the way snowflakes look falling on my daughter’s hair instead of cold toes, helps to make every season enjoyable. 
Life is like that too. Even if our physical climate doesn’t change with the seasons, we change. And like the seasons, each time in our lives has its own beauty and wonder, its challenges and rewards. As I enter the autumn of my life, I am focusing on the beautiful things that come with age - wisdom and compassion, amazing memories, no more changing diapers - while trying to appreciate those other things - laugh lines, tuition bills, one-piece bathing suits - that come along for the ride. Glorying in the majesty and doing what we can with the rest while trying to get better enhances life. Always can we turn to the enjoyment of our present season, the warmth of memories from the past season, and the hope and excitement of the season yet to come, whether it be the weather or our stage in life. As we sink into fall and just begin to anticipate winter, may we also smile on the memory of our past happiness, look expectantly toward the joys yet to come, and drink in the beauty of our present moment. Happy Autumn!