Light

This time of year can begin to feel like a never-ending slog. The days are still short, dark, and even the rare sunny days are cold enough to remind us that spring isn't here just yet.

Back when I lived in New York, the February to March zone was brutal for me. I would fall into a funk because it felt like I could never get warm. It felt like I'd never see the light again.

But the thing is? Spring always does come.

And yes, this is a round-about analogy for grief or even hard times. It can be so difficult to remember when we're in the thick of it, but the sun always rises again. Always. It might take a while - we might hit a patch of dark days - but it will rise.

Remembering those patterns of nature helped me through my terrible months, but it doesn't have to be nature that reminds us of this. Some people find the light in their faith; others find it in the comfort of friends and family. I suppose I'm much more literal because I just kept going towards sunrise, towards spring.

That understanding, though, brings the reminder that winter and night will come. Darkness comes. It's unavoidable. But, it's all just temporary. We can steady ourselves to make it through and we know it's just part of the cycle.