Change of Season: A Non Engineered Approach To Joy

Lake Hogan-Wrinkle Cove Trail
2015 September-photos by Libby Fife

It has occurred to me lately that much of my life involves trying to make something happen. Whether it is trying to get someone to return an email or trying to get my middle aged cat to eat or trying to sell my art, there is certainly a lot of "engineering" going on in my life. Think about it. There is the constant necessity to make meals appear on the table, make the laundry be clean and ready, make time to read or to have a walk, or anything else you can think of. It is all effort and all in the aid of getting some kind of a result. And these are all positive things that I have to do. They are tasks or chores or events that will bring about something good (or maybe bad, who knows?) and are part of what makes a life, a life. But, it is tiring. 

As I reflected on that, the fact that it can be exhausting trying to produce some kind of result, I realized that balancing this out would be helpful. As I looked around while on my walk at the lake (pictures above), I thought about the mental process of balancing and realized how grateful I am for the passing of the seasons. I don't actually have to do a darn thing to make that happen. I just have to enjoy it. And as we approach Rosh Hashanah, I can reflect on the ease of effort and pure enjoyment of a gift that is not engineered or asked for, and be truly grateful for a gift freely given.
Libby