Seasons of life, nature

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant:

if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”

[Meditations Divine and Moral]”
~ Anne Bradstreet, The Works of Anne Bradstreet ~

iPhone photos blended into a seasonal montage with Photoshop CS5

The ebb and flow of seasons reflect of the stages of life. No matter where you live or the religion you practice, there are certain basic stages of humanity: childhood, teenage years, adult years and elderly years. And then within each of those stages, are smaller stages naturally. Like seasons, the flow of these phases build upon each other and remain in constant change.

Regardless of the generations before, each child must learn certain lessons for themselves. Just a each seedling must bloom on their own. Of course, each child or seedling can be placed in a variety of settings that may either enhance or hinder that growth, but the original mission of growth and change, is always the same.

The great Greek philosopher, Heraclitus of Ephesus, is credited for stating the facts of change so many years ago. “The only thing that is constant is change.”

When observing nature and humanity, this simple fact remains true to this day. The world is in constant change and movement. Sometimes that change is good. Other times it is bad. Regardless, the change comes. The key to change is not how to avoid it, but rather how to deal with it. Dealing with change is how we adapt and survive, said Suzy Kassem.

“Transformations are a part of life. We are constantly being changed by things changing around us. Nobody can control that. Nobody can control the environment, the economy, luck, or the moods of others. Compositions change. Positions change. Dispositions change. Experiences change. Opportunities and attitudes change. You will change.”
~ Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem ~

The manner in which we deal with the challenges and changes in life determine our outcome. We may thrive under some changes while we struggle with others. Just as nature may struggle after a particularly harder season than another. The ups and downs of life highlight the differences, making us appreciate the good, like Anne Bradstreet said in the quote above. Think about it. If all you ever knew was good, you may not appreciate those blessings as much. And if all you ever knew was bad, you would marvel at the smallest blessing. The cycles of change in life and nature bring balance and order to the world, and are all part of the circle of life…whether or not we want to admit that and adapt to the changes is up to us though.

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For Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge ~ Nature (with some photomontage).