A homemaker who decides to intentionally slow her life and cultivate connections to people and the natural world will come to appreciate the changing seasons more and more.
Instead of only noticing the weather when it inconveniences her, she will begin to see small changes in the clouds, the air temperature, and the wind.
Instead of viewing the change of seasons as an excuse to build a new wardrobe or decorate for a particular holiday, she will gradually learn to embrace the rhythms of each season, and seek what each has to offer.
If she plans a garden, she will learn which plants pop up in the spring, which love the heat of summer, and which thrive in autumn’s cooler days.
If she lives near the woods, she will learn to identify the flowers and plants that grow wild around her, and which ones are good for food or medicine.
She welcomes the return of the warm sun in springtime, with the smell of freshly-watered earth from unexpected showers. She feels the jubilation of new life, from tiny budding leaves and flowers to butterflies and baby chicks.
In summer, she soaks in the long days and glories in the heat. She joins the industrious bee in laboring among the flowers and plants. Cultivating a garden is a work of hope, from the first planting of seeds to careful watering and weeding, and at last enjoying the lovely blooms and produce.
She appreciates the fullness of autumn’s bounty, and gives thanks as she preserves food for the coming winter. She looks forward to the shorter, colder days with their slower pace and stillness after a busy summer.
When winter arrives, she can watch the snow falling and wonder at its beauty instead of worrying about shoveling and icy roads.
Letting the seasons guide the pace of life, as well as your activities and even your food, can only be achieved by taking a step back from the noise and screens. When you linger and listen, you will find that the world is full of wonder and beauty.
Letting the Seasons Guide your Life
Again, living seasonally does not mean you have to leave human society completely behind and adopt a primitive, wilderness lifestyle. Even if you live in a bustling city, there are ways to let the seasons guide your life.
Cook with local, seasonal ingredients
You can visit a local farmer’s market to buy fresh produce, and base your meals around what’s in season. You will gain a new appreciation for strawberries and tomatoes if you only eat them when they are in season where you live!
It is a challenge to cook with only seasonal ingredients, to be sure, but it’s an exercise in gratitude as well. You will joyfully welcome the appearance of new fruits and vegetables each season!
Cooking with seasonal ingredients has a way of making you feel connected to the seasons and growers, even if you do not have a garden yourself.
Grow something
What better way to feel connected to the earth than to care for a plant and watch it grow? Even if you’re not a green thumb, just give it a try.
Plant a little pot of herbs in your kitchen, or place a flowerpot in a sunny window. If you really can’t keep plants alive, try a cactus or succulent. Air plants don’t require watering.
Growing plants is good for us because it helps us regain a sense of expectation and hopeful waiting that has been almost lost in a culture of instant gratification.
Caring for a plant requires some dedication and commitment. You must show consideration for the needs of that particular plant. (Sometimes the plant doesn’t survive the learning experience, but that also teaches you valuable lessons!)
Pay attention to the daylight
Modern electricity is a wonderful thing, but we can learn a lot by following the patterns of natural light and darkness.
For one thing, it will help you sleep better. The soft light of the waning sun tells your body to start getting sleepy, and the bright sunrise tells it to wake up.
If your home is filled with artificial lighting at all hours of the day, your brain can get confused, and start to keep you awake when you should be sleeping. This is particularly common among people who use bright lights or glowing screens in the evening, and those who work night shifts.
Switching to soft lamplight or candlelight after sunset can help transition your brain to a more restful state where sleep comes naturally.
What about wintertime, when the days are shorter?
Well, yes, the days are shorter in winter. That’s part of the charm of this season, part of the coziness and stillness. I think that to really appreciate winter, it helps to embrace the change in daylight: definitely try to get outside during the day when the sun is shining, but it’s okay to accentuate the long evenings with soft light.
Just because it’s dark outside doesn’t necessarily mean you should turn on all the lights. You might see it as a chance to catch up on sleep after a busy summer, or an opportunity to read by the fire or have some good conversations over hot drinks.