“There’s only so many springs and only so many summers,” It's a line from a Don Henley song called "The Last Worthless Evening" and it's a poignant reminder of our finite time on this earth and the importance of cherishing each moment while it lasts.
I wanted to talk about this because we all know and we've all heard about how life goes by fast and some of what I'm going to talk about we've all heard before, but I don't think it hurts to remind ourselves. Now in the last several years I feel like some of our springs and some of our summers (and fall and winters for that matter) have been tainted and to some degree, stolen! What's going on in our country in the last few years has been very upsetting...the divisiveness has stolen some of our joy from these precious spring and summers. and yes, I know we all have control over what we take in and how we react but let's face it, we're all human and it's very hard to ignore...especially when it affects your particular way of life!
So let's talk about those finite springs and summers...
Life has a way of rushing by, often without giving us a chance to pause and truly appreciate it. Seasons come and go, and before we know it, another year has passed.
Spring and summer are often symbolic of youth, growth, and vitality. Spring represents renewal—a time when flowers bloom, trees grow green, and life seems to start anew. Summer, with its long, warm days, invites adventure, connection, and carefree joy. But just as the seasons are fleeting, so too are the stages of our lives. We only get so many springs to start fresh and only so many summers to bask in the warmth of those we love.
Counting how many springs or how many summers you have left in your life can be a sobering exercise but one that will wake you up to the fact that they really are finite and perhaps this exercise will motivate you to make the most of them! I've done this by using the average life expectancy and counting the number of years until I reach that age...it's not a big number! and it is very sobering! But it wakes you up, makes you more self-aware!
In this modern world we live in, it’s easy to let these precious seasons slip away unnoticed. We get caught up in work, making money, getting ahead, keeping up with the Jones', keeping up on social media, worrying about the direction of our country, always promising ourselves that we’ll find time to enjoy life “later.” But as the seasons change, later turns into never and by the way, we all are not guaranteed a "later"! I think a good strategy is to live with intention. Every spring, take a moment to reflect on what you want to renew in your life—whether it’s relationships, hobbies, or personal growth. Every summer, embrace the opportunities for connection, adventure, and joy. Spend time with loved ones, explore new places, and create memories that will warm your heart in the colder seasons of life.
Now life’s impermanence doesn’t need to be a source of fear. Instead, how about looking at it's a call to action—a nudge to make the most of every day. Spend five minutes in the morning experiencing gratitude! Make a list of all the things you're grateful for and read them out loud every morning before you start the day… I like to do this because throughout the day, I am involved in the competitiveness of work and career and by the end of the day I'm thinking I don't have enough of this, I don't have enough of that and I sometimes forget about what I do have. Another way to look at the fleeting nature of spring and summer is that it reminds us to savor them fully because if we knew they would never end, we might not appreciate them as much...kinda like without the bitter you wouldn't appreciate the sweet as much.
As you go through life, remember that there are only so many springs and so many summers. Don’t let them pass by unnoticed. If nothing else, just be cognizant of this fact, be self aware and live intentionally, embrace the seasons, and create a life rich in experiences and memories rather than THINGS! Because when winter eventually arrives, it’s those cherished moments of spring and summer that will bring warmth to your soul. Trust me, I was a caretaker for my mom for her last few years and she did not talk about the things she bought and the things she owned… She lamented about her EXPERIENCES and MEMORIES!
Anyway, I hope this helps in some way and remember...Be Bold - Be Kind - Be You!
Maddie
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