The Seasons of Our Lives

Guest Opinion

By Karen Mulvahill | Sept. 23, 2023

Poetry, literature, mythology, astrology, religion…all find metaphorical connections between the human lifespan and the seasons of nature. We are, after all, creatures of nature. Spring signifies beginnings, youth, and hope. In summer, we bloom; we discover love, vocation, and—vacation! Fall represents maturity, harvest, and conserving. Winter symbolizes endings, dormancy, and death, but also wisdom.

Summer has officially given way to fall with its spires of goldenrod, purple asters, red maples, and bronze oaks. The low sun casts a golden filter over everything. There’s also that bittersweet nostalgia for the summer past and an occasional spike of dread for the long winter to come.

In Aesop’s fable of the ant and the grasshopper, the ant busily stores food for winter while the grasshopper plays his fiddle and dances instead. Though the grasshopper goes hungry, I think maybe the ant lay on his deathbed and wished he’d danced more.

I spent the summer like a grasshopper, hiking, paddle boarding, visiting wineries, and bike riding. However, fall does require more ant-like behavior in preparation for winter. The bottom boards of the house’s siding show bare wood in spots where last year’s snow and ice scraped away the paint. Leaves begin to collect in colorful drifts. Outdoor furniture must be put away or covered. Is it too late to power wash the deck?

It’s the season to be both ant and grasshopper. When winter does come, you’ll be glad you made time for work and play.

In addition to the chores we complete before our long winters, we also have to prepare for the cold, sunless days. What can we do to prevent the gloomy skies from darkening our moods? We’ve all heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression that typically begins in late fall. According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 5 percent of U.S. adults suffer from SAD. But another 10-20 percent “may get a milder form of the winter blues.” I suspect that if this were measured by region, we in the northern climes would have a much higher number.

I think of it as a hibernation instinct. Once Daylight Saving Time ends, it’s like a switch has been turned in me. All I want to do is eat and sleep. To combat this winter lethargy, one thing we can do is establish a routine in our lives. According to Rachel Goldman, psychologist at the NYU School of Medicine, “When people don’t have a routine or structure to their day it can cause increased stress and anxiety, as well as overwhelming feelings, lack of concentration, and focus.”

Routine can greatly benefit your physical health. Rising and going to bed at the same times each day, eating healthy meals at specific times, and exercising regularly are all important to physical well-being. Creating and sticking to a schedule also guarantees time for your personal priorities.

A schedule should not only include those things that must be done—work, childcare, doctor visits, grocery shopping, etc.—but those that are pleasurable and those that contribute to your life goals. Perhaps it’s finally learning a foreign language or how to play an instrument. Maybe reading War and Peace. Knitting an afghan for the grandchild. Listening to music. Weekly game nights with friends.

Include time to go outside every day. Even though it may soon seem like there’s no sun, it’s out there. Plus, exercise is a known mood booster. There’s nothing like a woodsy trail lined with conifers draped in thick drifts of snow to give you a sense of awe and gratitude. If you are able, go for walks or snowshoe or ski.

If you are able, consider yourself fortunate. Those in our community who are in the winter season of their lives may not be as able. Many of our elders live alone, have difficulty getting out, and are vulnerable to falls on icy walks. Try to make room in your schedule for calls or visits or to help with shopping or snow shoveling.

If you need help or want to help, most of our counties have departments whose goal is to help seniors. The Area Agency on Aging of Northern Michigan can direct people to the appropriate resources. For example, ShareCare in Leelanau County provides reassurance calls and visits and rides to medical appointments, among other services, through a network of volunteers.

So dance away in the red splendor that is autumn. But channel your inner ant to prepare for winter—for yourself and for others. If you create a routine that reflects your values and goals, winter will be a breeze.

Karen Mulvahill is a writer living in northern Michigan.