***Transitions

Time goes by so fast! I can’t believe it’s already the end of summer and almost the end of autumn. I’m not ready! I was so comfortable and basking in the warmth of summer. I was so grateful for the splash of fall colors and the crispness of the air…and now there is snow on the mountains and the inevitable winter approaching.

I know the time is coming to bundle up, brush the cobwebs off the snow shovel and turn up the heat, but I’m noticing how I’m clinging to the last of the mild weather and the last of the long days. Where do I, or we, do that in other areas of our lives?

Life is about change. Nothing lasts indefinitely and, as has been said in many ways over the centuries, change is unavoidable. This being the case, it’s fruitless to cling to whatever the present conditions may be…and all the more difficult to let go when they’re pleasant.

Through watching ourselves in our yoga practice, we can become aware of resistance to change in the microcosm of our yoga. Ahhhh…that forward fold feels so good. I could just stay there for a while, but along comes the transition to downward dog. Maybe I really don’t feel like doing that right now…but time to move along. This is the practice; time to be present in the now.

How gracefully and willingly can we go through the transitions from one pose to the next? Can we let go of the comfort zone and consciously allow for the change and movement?

This may seem like a small thing, but practicing awareness in simple things can lead to awareness of the patterns in our lives…in the big things.

Letting go and liberating ourselves can be a wonderful gift. Who knows what the next phase may bring? We tend to fear the unknown and want to stay comfortable in the known. But the unknown doesn’t mean a negative experience. I can mean something surprising and wonderful is about to happen…if we can just release and relax.

When I’m comfortable and safe in the warmth of the summer sunshine, I may resist the coming of wintertime, but it brings with it a different kind of beauty and comfort…the diamond sparkles of snow in the sunshine, the warmth and coziness of the fireplace and the splendor of a winter wonderland.

So, get ready for change; assume the change will be positive and maybe exciting, and move into new situations with grace and gratitude for fresh experiences. Our lives will move on with or without our consent, so release, enjoy and celebrate the surprises and the blessings.