Fall has always been my favorite time of year. The cooler temperatures offer a welcome reprieve from the thick, humid air of a Carolina summer. As we watch the leaves change their shades, I am reminded of the importance of embracing the changing seasons in our own lives. I am 42 years old, past the age of raising infants and rapidly entering a new season of life which became all too real as I scheduled senior pictures for our oldest child. Times are indeed changing, but since when has this been a bad thing?
When we mourn the loss of the days of our youth, we miss out on the beauty of the season of life that we have been blessed to have today. I want to pose a bit of a challenge to you, and to myself, as we embrace the exciting new changes that lie before us:
- Take a good look at life as it is, not as we wish it to be. While it is important to have goals, I encourage you to take the information from your current life and set goals as it pertains to the future, not the past. We don’t live there anymore.
- Really learn to love the skin that you’re in at this moment. I have always been focused on health and fitness. However, these days it is less about how I look in a bathing suit and more about having strong muscles to hike mountains and swim in the ocean. The fall leaves change color and crinkle a bit on the edges. But we adore the transformation of the foliage. We should take the same level of excitement embracing our own new dips and curves.
- Breathe deeply. This is an exhilarating season if life if we choose to see it as such. Breathe it in. Appreciate the moments. Romanticize these days as if they were expressed on the silver screen. You are the main character in this story. It is time that you began stepping into your role.
Change is never easy. But, when we choose to embrace who we are in this moment, we can find deeper joy, exhilaration and fun. Welcome to this new season in your life!
Dr. Taffy Hawkins is an avid writer, researcher, author, speaker and performance expert. She holds a Doctorate degree in Psychology specializing in Sport and Performance Psychology, both a B.S. and M.S. in Exercise Science, and certifications in life coaching and mental performance Mastery. She began her journey into personal development when struggles in her own life left her asking how she might experience more success, adventure, and appreciation in life without compromising mental health. This journey brought her to coaching and eventually a great career help others maximize their own lives. Her fourteen years of teaching, coaching, and writing have allowed her to help many individuals overcome the mental blocks that prevent performance at the highest level. Taffy has also authored six books to date on various topics to help readers experience greater physical, mental and spiritual growth. When she is not helping others become their best self, she enjoys reading, writing, sports, traveling with her family and daydreaming about her next adventure.