In my last blog, I was extolling the virtues of winter as the time for rest and rejuvenation. However, if you are like me, you love the warmer temperatures, longer days and the general feeling of optimism that comes from the arrival of better weather. Spring is a fun time to travel, be outside and breathe in the fresh air. We spring into spring, simmer in summer, fall into autumn and wrap the year up in winter. Every season has its own purpose. In the article, “ How Changes of Season Affect Our Behavior”, there was interesting research presented on cycles that we don’t even notice that affect our lives.  The article discusses how circadian, infradian, and ultradian rhythms control what we do and when we do it. Circadian comes from “circa diem” meaning a cycle from daylight to dark. Infradian rhythms can be a longer cycle like menstruation and ultradian rhythms vary in our sleep cycles. The pineal gland and the release of melatonin are big players in these routines, as the pineal gland is affected by light: less light, time to go to sleep; more light, time to wake up. The daily beginning of melatonin is sleep and the end of melatonin is the beginning of a new day. Sleep times and even dreaming vary by season. Our thinking is impacted as well. Cognitive function peaks at the summer solstice and is at its lowest at the winter solstice, while working memory task is at its best during the autumn and spring equinox.

 Hormone levels not only influence nest building, migration and storing food for winters for animals, but for us humans, it affects blood pressure, cholesterol levels and the number of calories we take in.

 It is what motivates you to get out and work endlessly in the garden in the spring and snuggle under the blanket in the dark winter. It’s all about physiology.

Another type of season we experience can be spiritual and mental highs and lows when we feel closer to our creator and sometimes, farther away. These periods of life can come when we have had significant loss in finances, relationships, trust in institutions or we just can’t hear Him or feel Him when we need Him. Once, for months when I wanted to listen to the Lord, but He was silent. I had to trust even though at that point, I did not hear.

Recently, I pulled a ligament in my knee, and it was so painful that I had a challenging time moving and I couldn’t drive. I had made lots of plans and they all had to be cancelled because what was recommended and what I did was rest, take pain medicine, and elevate my knee with ice. Not only that, but I am also pretty independent and used to doing things on my own.  I usually entertain and interact with many people during the week. After a busy couple of months prior to my injury, this time of rest was actually just what I needed. While I usually do things for my family and friends, now I had to depend on them. I spent the time catching up with lots of reading, writing and listening to music and podcasts. I can’t explain how nourishing to my soul this has been. What I discovered was that I have found someone who was lost, and that person has re-established her priorities. It has made me really see what I want to spend my time on and what I do not. This time of imposed restoration has become an elixir that has improved my perspective and made me realize that quiet time, in this age of chaos, is what I need and want.

#rest #circadianrhythm #perspective #life