After a week like we’ve had on the Right Coast, many grumble about their precise lat. and long. coordinates here on good ol’ Mother Earth. Those with the financial means and good sense make plans to change their coordinates, temporarily, to a more hospitable climate than that of the Hinterland. They’ll migrate to a destination with palm trees, white sands, crystal clear waters and fruity drinks with colourful umbrellas offered unlimitedly poolside. They’ll bathe in the heat and vitamin D of the great glowing orb in the sky, wear flip flops, slather SPF 60 everywhere and their troubles will melt away in the serenity of warm breezes and rhythm of the waves gently caressing the shoreline.
Yeah, I hate them too.
It’s crazy how much our weather fluctuates in the winter. Blizzard conditions, rain, freezing rain, plus temperatures, sun, fog. And that’s just a typical Tuesday. Nova Scotia is a veritable cornucopia of ‘seasonal diversity’. It’s due to our neighbour, the Great North Atlantic and what’s plaguing our dear Mother Earth. 'Seasonal diversity’ is a fancy way of saying “Climate Change”; another polite way of saying ‘Global Warming’. It makes people feel more comfortable about what’s truly happening to our environment. Go immediately and watch “Inconvenient Truth” or Google the ‘Gaia Hypothesis’ if you don’t believe me. Cataclysmic weather systems make the top story on local, national and international newscasts daily. The facts don’t lie.
But we’ve learned to adapt. Hearty are the people of the Right Coast, especially those who live the whole winter here without a respite on southern shores. But really, who’s the wiser of the two? Those who take a break from the conditions or those who tough it out until spring finally arrives? Hard to say really. Perhaps it's wiser to recognize your limits and tolerance for unpleasantries than slogging through, wishing for a brighter day to come.
Personal change is the same way. There are times in our lives that life is like spring; full of new life, regeneration, hope, energy. Other times are like winter; stark, dark and cold. After all, winter can be pretty damn bleak. But here’s an interesting observation that I’ve made recently; these personal seasons may be within our control, unlike the inevitability of weather.
Back in November, I hit a personal ‘winter’. I found myself in a mental mind-set that wasn’t productive, enthusiastic or optimistic. This mind-set was NOT me; I’ve never subscribed to self-pity nor have I ever defined myself as a victim caught in my own life. Rationally, I knew I had created a wonderful life that I should have been celebrating and appreciating, but instead, I felt just plain sad; helpless to my circumstances. So I employed my well-known highly unsuccessful strategy to situations like this; seek BIG irrational ineffective change.
The plan ‘de jour’ was my orientation; my lat. and long. needed changing, I was convinced the mere change of coordinates would certainly make me feel better. For a whole half hour, I searched the internet trying to find a remarkable over-paid job on the other side of Mother Earth: Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Katmandu, anywhere but here. It didn’t take very long to realize it wasn’t the change I required, or really, wanted. It didn’t help that I needed to google all the destinations where I was apparently going to up-root Girly Girl Manor and relocate it into this fantastic new life. Obviously, I found myself back at square one, with the exception that I was now frustrated, though more geographically educated. My friend, (‘Triple T’) and I have this great mantra that we throw at each other in times like this; ‘You can’t force the universe.’ So I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to embrace my winter season; I would have to pursue my ‘great life changing plan’ in the spring. So with a heavy sigh, I shut down my computer, closed up GGM and hibernated for the night.
Sleep is such a magical thing, perspective being the fabulous by-product. That morning, the day seemed a little brighter, the temperature rose a few degrees and promise of sunnier days peaked around the corner. The winter bite didn’t seem so harsh; in fact, the snowflakes started to look pretty falling and collecting in a sparkly blanket in the yard. Perhaps, this winter would have it’s moments of beauty and peace.
I had no idea spring would come so quickly. I wish I could state precisely what transpired which brought me from there to here. I don’t really know; perhaps it was because I embraced the my circumstances; or that I was truthful with myself or that I realized that my determination wasn't based in fixing something broken, but rather recognizing my capability to adapt to inevitable change.
One of my very favourite Buddhist Proverbs promises; “When the student is ready, the teacher appears” to which I’m thankful. I wouldn’t want to travel too far from my current co-ordinates to enjoy this new season.
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