With autumn setting in and soon giving way to winter, sometimes I fall into that emotional state where the dark days and cold nights overwhelm me and I wish for the Spring/Summer seasons once more.
Yet, there is a beauty at this time of year. I marvel at the brilliant display of vibrant autumnal colours in their full glory. The reds, golds, browns, oranges and yellows of all the flamboyant foliage collide and compete to grab the attention of anyone passing by. I am always mesmerised by the sight. It’s a stunning theatrical production. No words can aptly describe Allah’s artistry on the canvas of this Earth. The spectacle is enough to keep my pending dread of the cold winter months ahead well at bay.
The other self-prescribed treatment is to simply enjoy each day and understand the blessing to be alive. There are the small things and big things in any 24 hour period which bring joy in sometimes subtle ways but also in huge undulating waves. Things like seeing a clean, pristine kitchen sink with all the dishes done to the larger things like being with a friend and enjoying the companionship and the chance to offload. Not forgetting all the other things in-between too. They all combine to make a life worth living.
There’s no denying that keeping negative feelings about the cold and long nights at bay is a constant internal battle I fight within myself. The way in which I do this is to be steeped in gratitude for the life I have been given. I recall my friend’s sister who passed away recently – knowing that she most likely took her own life. Her story resounds in my mind often and is a stark reminder of what can happen when someone loses sight of the wood for the trees. For me, Alhamdulillah, there is not one thing I see worth giving my life up for by my own volition. Whilst I shouldn’t be too caught up in the duniya (temporal world), there is nothing to say that I can’t stand in awe of its magnamity. After all, this is a sure way of being humbled and reminded of my own insignificance.
There’s also the other contradictory notion which is that the long winter nights serve to make me yearn to see another Spring. Not that I am wishing my life away. Far from it. Whilst I do enjoy the cosy nights in and being swathed in a warm blanket, I know that in itself is a pleasure to be acknowledged. Each season brings its own challenges but simultaneous joy and each of them undoubtedly return us humbled in the presence of our Maker. Through them all, the one salient reminder that stands out is that life is played out against an ever-changing backdrop, be it the seasons or our family situations or more. Having the conviction to continue and focus on the good that each phase brings, is where success is to be achieved. Ultimately, that facility lies within us irrespective of the backdrop of life’s stage.
