Winter Awakening. . .
Winter can’t be denied. Much as we’d like to pretend it’s a balmy spring day or a warm summer afternoon, the bitter wind stings the eyes and our hands feel like ice. Even here in mild Georgia, we feel the change during winter and respond appropriately.
That’s what winter calls forth in us: the acceptance of reality and the appropriate response. Life is the way it is, in every given moment. It’s easy to accept this when things are good. But wintertime challenges us in many ways.
The reality of winter is sometimes stark. Barren trees fill the orchard, their dark, pointed forms rising sharply from the snowy mantle covering the soil, harshly contrasted against the bright, clear winter sun.
The possibility for greater happiness arises. Because we can simply be who we are. No more pretense, trying to dress up our wintertime challenges as springtime daffodils. We can begin to see the beauty of our true self, rather than who we’ve been pretending or trying to be.
This new authenticity exposes aspects of yourself you may have overlooked. Think of the things you see in the winter that you didn’t notice before: the squirrel’s nest in the oak tree, hidden amongst the summer foliage; the shape of the trunk and its vast network of branches; the gnarled root system, with its bumps and turns, spread out through the lawn.
Our inner foundations are brought to the surface of our awareness for an overhaul in the cold season. Imagine what other qualities lie within you, waiting to be revealed when the snow melts and the possibilities of spring burst forth from the seemingly barren earth. When the first flowers emerge from their bulbs, you may then see the strength, joy, health, inspiration, and motivation that lay within the bare bones of yourself.
A new beauty unfolds in seeing life with clarity and unabashed honesty. Accept this reality and open yourself to a clear vision not only of the present moment, but of the coming springtime in your life.
Peace and Love, Jim
#winterawakens #thedailybuddha
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