Up here in New England we’re very aware of the changing of the seasons. For me, living in the Boston area one of the early signs — often before the temperature changes, is the arrival of tens of thousands of college students back to the area. Combine that with younger children starting schools and suddenly the wide open streets of summer become clogged and tense. Suddenly I find it takes up to 50% more time to get anywhere, and I haven’t figured that into my planning. The result: anxiety and irritation, until I adjust to the new reality. My ability to forecast these times is challenged because some days are worse than others, and I haven’t yet seen the pattern.
I know from the past that this will change as the month goes on. I’ll learn the pattern of the ebb & flow of traffic, new students will start realizing it makes more sense to walk, bike and bus than to drive, and I’ll adjust to the school season. While in this process, Chinese Medicine reminds me that the changing of seasons is associated with the Earth element and how we are nourished. How do we take nourishment in and transform it from “outside/other” to “inside/us”. How do I slow down enough to recognize my needs in this moment and act to get them met in the current climate? I might wish the streets were as wide open as summer-time, but they aren’t. I can still take care of myself, still have an enjoyable bike to work, I just might need to leave earlier or go a different route. When I make those choices I nourish myself the joy of my ride rather than the pain of my irritation. And all my reactions to poor drivers begin to remind me I have a choice about what thoughts I feed myself, as well as what food I ingest. Just as I strive to nourish a healthy body, I also get a choice about what kind of mind I want to nourish.
“o
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