We’re coming to the tail-end of February and with that comes March. Ever since the weather started to get really cold, all I can think about are sunnier days in all their sun-kissed glory. I don’t believe I’m the only one that has their sights set on the spring and summer to come. If summer is the goal, then the time that we are in now may, perhaps, be labelled as ‘transitionary.’
I’m not sure if it’s just the time or year, but lately I’ve found myself drawn to the idea of transitions and all that comes with it: ideas of growth, abundance and lessons.
A transition is classically defined as the process or period of time that comes with the changing of a state or condition. Alternatively, if you were to use ‘transition’ as an action word, the procedure of changing states would be appropriate, too.
It could also be appropriate to acknowledge that our entire lives are spent in transition; we grow daily. This is an undeniable fact. Being human is complex and living a human existence is perhaps the most complex thing we will ever do as people. In this context, the transition is the evolution and the growth from one stage of your life to another. Contrary to what we typically believe, growth is not a destination, nor a fixed state . We do not arrive at a point where we have ever really finished growing. Instead, it happens day by day, moment to moment.(like most things in my adult life, I’m starting to see, such as happiness, wealth, self-love and acceptance, success etc. are constantly in transition ).
I guess what I’m trying to share is that, to a certain degree, we all live in a constant state of flux. In reality, being in this constant state is what influences our perception of our own personal growth. Everything we do as people is one ginormous transition, and that’s just called life.
But Roooooose, what does that even mean?
Transitions don’t follow rules. They’re unique to each individual in the same way that each person is so incredibly constructed through a variation of biology and biography. As cliched as it sounds, we’re all on such individual journeys it’s so hard to apply a blanket statement on how ,or what, or why we do the things we do. Even if we really, really want to. Even when it’s really hard to not look over and compare.
Using the Yoga practice as illustration, I can make the analogy that when we move at our own pace, and although it’s so sweet to move as a community, our individual practice is cultivated through the work we do with our own bodies . On any given day, we work with what we have at our disposal; we practice yoga with the body we live in. The nourishment (or lack thereof), the sleep (or lack of sleep), the pain (or the good feelings), the long days (the short days) all affect how the body feels and the practice unfolds. When we are on our mats, we can’t help but look around at all the uniqueness in the room and compare ourselves to the neighbours from time to time. It’s all the more important to zero in on your own awareness, to acknowledge your needs, to know that how fast or whether you come into a shape matters less than the attempt that takes you there.
When you look back at your life, you’ll notice the big events and the memories that stick out. These landmark moments are ones that we tend to look forward to: the graduations, the celebrations, the ‘firsts’. We also recall the events that we may not be the happiest about: moments where we’re let down or disappointed, the ‘goodbyes,’ the ‘lasts.’ Riddled in between these moments are the living linkages that tie life together. These moments are the behind-the-scene cuts that build the memories we hold on to. Life happens in the midst of these in between moments and it is these moments, in particular, where we see the growth that brings us to our next evolution. It’s also in these periods of change that we add value and richness to our lives, maybe not always rich in positivity, but valuable in how much we learn about life and also ourselves, even in the moments where we are not necessarily proud.
So savour the transition.
Even when you really don’t want to.
Spring in itself is a time of transition. It is that period of time between the bitterness of winter and the sweet promise of summer. But just like in our yoga practice, transitions in real life are important, too.
xo Rose