Learning From The Cycle Of Life

As we walk through the world, the people we encounter appear so
different from one another. We see babies, old men, pregnant women,
and teen-aged boys. We know couples on the verge of marriage and
lonely widows. We interact with toddlers and the terminally ill. As
different as each person seems, they are all living the human
experience. They are just at different places in the cycle that
begins with birth and ends with death. Every phase of the cycle of
life has its gifts and its challenges. Each stage is temporary and
ultimately gives way to a new phase. This ephemeral quality makes
each phase precious, because it will never last.
One of the wonderful qualities possessed by babies and young children
is that they are unaware that a cycle of life even exists. They
simply are present to wherever they happen to be right now, and they
don't give much thought to the past or future. Being around them
reminds us of the joy that comes from living fully in the moment. On
the opposite end of life's cycle are our elderly role models. They
are a reminder that each phase of life should be treasured. Time does
pass, and we all change and grow older.
Being aware of the cycle of life and our place in it makes us wiser.
As we develop a true appreciation for the phase we are in, we can
savor it more. A new mother going through a difficult time with her
infant can more easily embrace her challenges because she knows that
her child will grow up, and she will long for this time again.
Difficult and challenging periods are inevitable, but – like
everything that is a part of the cycle of life – they are temporary.
When we are fully engaged with life, we get to savor and grow from
each phase, and we are ready for the next one when it arrives. Fully
embracing wherever you are in the cycle of life is the very essence
to happiness.