“Summer ends, and Autumn comes, and he who would have it otherwise would have high tide always and a full moon every night.”
~Hal Borland
~Hal Borland
Saying autumn is one of my favorites isn't saying much, as I claim each season as "one of my favorites." I like them all, each of the seasons, for their own beauties and bounties. Spring for its temperate breezes and renewal of life. Summer for its clear skies and vibrant energy. Autumn for its varied colors and crisp air. Winter for its dark calm and permission to stay indoors.
This morning, a friend on Facebook asked that people leave a comment listing things for which they are most thankful (in preparation for the American tradition of Thanksgiving coming up at the end of November).
A more appropriate question for me would be: what are you not thankful for. The answer would be, "Not much." Good and Bad. Yin and Yang. Summer and Winter. I am grateful for them all and everything in between.
"According to yin and yang theory, there is a permanent tendency to balance between opposite forces. Right and wrong, winter and summer, they always contain some of its opposite and are always interacting. According to this, there is nothing completely good or completely bad, and there is nothing permanent. All opposite aspects are always going through a cycle and looking for balance between each other."
~Yin and Yang-The Opposites in Balance
It might seem glib, but I mean it with 100% sincerity. (To who or what I am thankful can be left for another blog on another day! :)
For many people in this world, there is certainly more sorrow than joy. I do not necessarily speak of being thankful when one's land is taken away by corporations, or when one must work in a factory 12 hours a day for mere pennies so that people half a world away can have stuff. Rather, I speak from my own experiences.
(One might argue that happiness and gratitude are relative to one's own experiences; while I think anyone, in any situation, is capable of feeling happiness and gratitude, even in something as "simple" as a sunrise, an embrace, or a large plush toy, I do not wish to trivialize that kind of pain which I can only imagine.)
Life for many of us has been made simpler through modern conveniences and technology, to the point we might think we will never know again what it is to truly struggle. But, nothing, other than the changing nature of everything, is permanent, not even our current state of ease. Can we be thankful for what we have whilst not being equally thankful for the changes that made it possible, and the changes that are inevitable?
For many people in this world, there is certainly more sorrow than joy. I do not necessarily speak of being thankful when one's land is taken away by corporations, or when one must work in a factory 12 hours a day for mere pennies so that people half a world away can have stuff. Rather, I speak from my own experiences.
(One might argue that happiness and gratitude are relative to one's own experiences; while I think anyone, in any situation, is capable of feeling happiness and gratitude, even in something as "simple" as a sunrise, an embrace, or a large plush toy, I do not wish to trivialize that kind of pain which I can only imagine.)
Life for many of us has been made simpler through modern conveniences and technology, to the point we might think we will never know again what it is to truly struggle. But, nothing, other than the changing nature of everything, is permanent, not even our current state of ease. Can we be thankful for what we have whilst not being equally thankful for the changes that made it possible, and the changes that are inevitable?
Would spring be as enjoyable if it wasn't a respite after a harsh winter? How sweet would laughter be if it did not occasionally follow tears of grief? Would dessert be as wonderful if it came before dinner rather than after?
It's true that sometimes dessert should come before dinner.. or take its place entirely! Were it to do so every time, however, dessert would lose its special oomph. We might in time come to view dessert as the thing we have to get through in order to get to the good stuff... like Brussels sprouts.
One might say, then, that to keep things in their right order, we should be immensely grateful for life's Brussels sprouts
so that we can better appreciate its Sex in a Pan
(btw, I tried and tried to find a recipe for Sex in a Pan NOT using crappy boxed pudding or cool whip. It can't be found. That must be changed! I will post one very soon!!)
It's true that sometimes dessert should come before dinner.. or take its place entirely! Were it to do so every time, however, dessert would lose its special oomph. We might in time come to view dessert as the thing we have to get through in order to get to the good stuff... like Brussels sprouts.
One might say, then, that to keep things in their right order, we should be immensely grateful for life's Brussels sprouts
so that we can better appreciate its Sex in a Pan
(btw, I tried and tried to find a recipe for Sex in a Pan NOT using crappy boxed pudding or cool whip. It can't be found. That must be changed! I will post one very soon!!)
2 comments:
Not everyone craves the sweetness of chocolate. In fact, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, broccoli
, et. Al. Are often savory treats that I crave!
You were hungry when you read this, I can tell. You zeroed right in on the food reference.
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