 by Dan Parker picture taken from toptenpack.com A man alone is in no way, shape or form an island. More familiarly put, no man is an island. Often times we may feel as though we are alone. We will never be truly alone. I took a long deserving walk with my best friend a few weekends ago, and while we were out I happened to admire something. A regular, nondescript, little bench on the side of the walking trail. I’m sure that many walk past without observing the little details, but I try to take notice of the little things. If you ever stop to read the small, faded memory in the center of most benches they have typical dedications or names and dates. This emotional footnote I couldn’t help to admire. “A man for all seasons”. If one were to break form their daily grind at that spot you would be serenaded by the ambience of creation. The sound of a small stream babbling off into the distance not far off. Seeing the invisible wisps of crisp autumn air brushing away the remaining foliage from the low hanging boughs and branches. Most notably however, would be that it was set a fork in the trail system, in whichever path you found yourself continued on would take you over a humble, aged wood bridge. How often do we neglect the time we are given to do something as simple as to just stop and think. To contemplate our surroundings, priorities or our seasons. To reflect and just be still.
A Season For Pain That sounds strange though, doesn’t it? Why would anyone want that. I mean it though to be synonymous with change in every form. Our thoughts can become our realities. If you wrestle with the pain of the death or loss of a loved one, mourn them for a season but celebrate the rest. Remember the seasons of love they gave and shared. How you loved them. If commit to something and fail, remember that it is in our failings that we can see our successes. Edison found hundreds of ways of how “not” to build a working light bulb before finding one that worked. Don’t give up, after all… no pain no gain. A Season of Compromise Too often that is a word that we feel benches us in times we think we have game. We think that it weakens our resolve. When we put the care and needs of others, healthily, before us we can create a greater positive. What comes around, goes around. The more we give, the more we receive. If we do things purely, then stronger our relationships become. It’s simple, yet hard. At times, it goes against our judgements, but if compromise builds someone up without cutting ourselves down, then at some point it will be returned. A Season of Tolerance When do we draw a line in the sand declaring who is right and who is wrong. Whose beliefs, lifestyles or political allegiances are right. Which are truths? If what’s true for you is true for you, and what’s true for me is true for me than what if my truth says yours is a lie, is it still true? Does it matter? Start viewing opinions as days; good or bad, we all have them. Tolerance can be debated or compromised, but should never be indifferent. Or indecisive. Be meaningful with your intentions. Accept people’s differences. You don’t have to agree with their decisions, but you should treat them with respect. A Season of Inflection How we carry ourselves has a lot of weight, but more so do our words. How we say things. The emphasis of the inflection. We can severe ties by emphasising the wrong aspect of our sentiments. We can change good humour into cutting remarks of pure cynicism. Speak with love. Exude it even in the pain. There are so many things that we could give a season to, but sometimes by recognizing that even when the light-hearted moments are overshadowed, we slide into a new season of life. But be in your season, and let it build into you.
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