Dear Angelo,
I am done with winter. In fact, I feel done with everything. I recently got laid off, have some health problems, and am turning 45. So much in my life is changing and I'm not sure I have the strength to deal with it. There's nothing to look forward to. Do you have any suggestions for me?
Signed, Giving up
Dear Giving Up,
Imagine a newborn coming into the world in Alaska in mid winter. The infant might think, ''Hey, I don't want to live in this cold, dark, barren world.'' Of course you would tell the infant, ''Just wait, spring is ahead; a time of constant light, warmth, and abundant life. Things will soon be beautiful. You'll see.'' The infant might reply, ''I don't believe it.'' But you would trust that spring was just ahead and say "don't worry, everything is going to be okay."
Your spring is coming. This is not the end, but the beginning. The Universe has good things in store for your future. The best is yet to come. You must have hope, trust, faith, belief, optimism - whatever word you choose - that Life is always working for you, never against you. Sure we all face hard, long, cold, dark winters, i.e., tough life challenges, yet spring always follows. If something isn't going well now, something better's planned ahead. There's meaning in our life's trials. We grow when we're stretched. Our negative experience of winter makes the joy of spring more ecstatic.
In my darkest moments, I make a point to find something beautiful in whatever's around me - seeing a flower, smelling vanilla, appreciating the architecture of a historic building, a baby's smile...Yes, life can be nasty, but it can also be lovely. This doesn't mean bad things don't happen that get us down. But you can change your mindset or approach to life, focusing on the good, not the bad, so life doesn't bury you. You have the power to make life a winter or spring.
All The Best, Angelo