In winter, we often find ourselves waiting for summer—tired of the cold, feeling dull because we can’t go out as much, and affected by shorter days that seem to drain our energy. In a similar way, there are seasons in life marked by uncertainty, exhaustion, or quiet discouragement. In those moments, life can feel stripped down and bare.
Yet external conditions need not determine what we feel in our hearts. The world outside may be cold or heavy, but within us, it is still possible to feel dynamic, uplifted, and alive. We may assume that strength has left us simply because it no longer feels visible. But resilience does not disappear just because conditions are harsh. The capacity to endure, to hope, and to begin again remains alive within us, even when we are unaware of it.
I’ve noticed that it is often when conditions become truly harsh that this inner, invincible summer reveals itself—not because the conditions are kind, but because they ask us to discover resources we didn’t know we possessed. This inner summer does not deny winter; it coexists with it. It reminds us that while circumstances may shape our outer world, they do not define our inner climate. Even in the depths, something within us knows how to wait, how to heal, and how to rise when the time is right. And so, I find myself grateful even for the harsh winters—for they help me discover that quiet, invincible summer within.
Pause for Reflection: What might this season be inviting me to discover about my inner strength?
Bluishmuse 