Seasons change, and our emotions change too. Sometimes people lose hope when things don’t go the way they planned. But I've learned that every season has a purpose, even the ones that feel hard, slow, or confusing. Each season teaches us something if we pay attention.
With fall coming to an end, we are entering the season of winter: cold, snowy, and as some might say, depressing. But why does it feel that way? Maybe it’s the gray skies, the cold air, or the lack of sunshine. But beyond the weather, why do people really feel down during this time? Maybe something in their life feels uncertain: finals, grades, stress, or personal struggles. We might not know, but they do. Winter often brings moments of stillness, when motivation feels low and everything seems frozen. Winter can also bring a heavy mindset, a feeling like everything around is stuck, including you.
Yet even then, something great is coming. The experience of feeling unmotivated or stuck can still shape you. It teaches patience, and patience always pays off in the long run. You might think, “Okay, sure, patience is important, but my season doesn’t have a purpose. It’s literally just winter.” But it’s more than that. Winter is a preparation season. Remember: winter is not only depressing. People also see it as a bright, snowy, cold, fun season. A time where they can enjoy themselves by putting on layers and layers of jackets and blankets, playing in the snow, or drinking hot cocoa. Even so, in difficult or quiet moments, growth is happening beneath the surface, the kind of growth that makes spring possible.
Spring is when things start to bloom again: flowers, trees, and even people. After long waiting seasons, new beginnings finally start to appear. After winter comes spring, a season of sunshine, color, and renewed hope. What reminds you of spring? Maybe it’s the flowers, the picnics, or the happiness you feel when warm air brushes your shoulder. During this time, you look back and realize you made it through winter. You’re grateful for the challenges you overcame and the strength you built along the way. But even in this season of joy, you might still feel like something is missing. That’s okay. You can acknowledge that feeling and keep choosing gratitude anyway.
To me, spring is the best season because in Chicago, you get both a gentle breeze and cozy warmth. And that warmth represents hope, hope that things can get better. And they do. Look at where you are now. Or maybe you’re still slowly stepping out of that heavy winter mindset. But this season should make you smile, because you’re learning how to be present, how to appreciate the moment, and how to feel joy again.
And just when spring teaches you how to hope again, summer arrives, a season of warmth, confidence, and energy. If winter is stillness and spring is renewal, then summer is growth. Full bloom. It’s the moment when everything you learned finally comes alive: music, ocean waves, ice cream, and long sunny days. Maybe the hot weather is a bit overwhelming, but summer is still a season for relaxation, joy, and freedom. It’s a time to enjoy life with friends and family, to laugh, to live in the moment. Yes, worries still exist, but they feel lighter, almost like they wash away the moment you step into the water at the beach. Summer teaches you how to let go, how to breathe deeply, and how to feel free again, not just physically, but mentally.
Summer warmth slowly cools, and the colors of fall appear, painting the world in shades of orange, red, and gold. Fall is the bridge between the joy of summer and the quiet of winter, a time to reflect, to let go, and to prepare ourselves for new seasons ahead. The leaves change from green to bright oranges and reds, reminding us that change can actually be beautiful. School starts again, routines return, and life gets a little busier. Maybe you feel stronger now, or maybe you don’t. Maybe you are still figuring things out, still learning how to deal with stress, still trying to keep moving forward. That's okay. Fall is a season to enjoy the world around you anyway, take a walk, breathe the crisp air, grab a pumpkin-flavored drink, and remember that you’re still growing, whether you feel it or not.
I associated the seasons with a purpose, but your seasons might look different. They might not show up in the same order, and they might not repeat in the same way. What matters is that every season in your life means something. Whether it’s slow, exciting, stressful, or joyful, each season teaches you something. Every season has a purpose.
With fall coming to an end, we are entering the season of winter: cold, snowy, and as some might say, depressing. But why does it feel that way? Maybe it’s the gray skies, the cold air, or the lack of sunshine. But beyond the weather, why do people really feel down during this time? Maybe something in their life feels uncertain: finals, grades, stress, or personal struggles. We might not know, but they do. Winter often brings moments of stillness, when motivation feels low and everything seems frozen. Winter can also bring a heavy mindset, a feeling like everything around is stuck, including you.
Yet even then, something great is coming. The experience of feeling unmotivated or stuck can still shape you. It teaches patience, and patience always pays off in the long run. You might think, “Okay, sure, patience is important, but my season doesn’t have a purpose. It’s literally just winter.” But it’s more than that. Winter is a preparation season. Remember: winter is not only depressing. People also see it as a bright, snowy, cold, fun season. A time where they can enjoy themselves by putting on layers and layers of jackets and blankets, playing in the snow, or drinking hot cocoa. Even so, in difficult or quiet moments, growth is happening beneath the surface, the kind of growth that makes spring possible.
Spring is when things start to bloom again: flowers, trees, and even people. After long waiting seasons, new beginnings finally start to appear. After winter comes spring, a season of sunshine, color, and renewed hope. What reminds you of spring? Maybe it’s the flowers, the picnics, or the happiness you feel when warm air brushes your shoulder. During this time, you look back and realize you made it through winter. You’re grateful for the challenges you overcame and the strength you built along the way. But even in this season of joy, you might still feel like something is missing. That’s okay. You can acknowledge that feeling and keep choosing gratitude anyway.
To me, spring is the best season because in Chicago, you get both a gentle breeze and cozy warmth. And that warmth represents hope, hope that things can get better. And they do. Look at where you are now. Or maybe you’re still slowly stepping out of that heavy winter mindset. But this season should make you smile, because you’re learning how to be present, how to appreciate the moment, and how to feel joy again.
And just when spring teaches you how to hope again, summer arrives, a season of warmth, confidence, and energy. If winter is stillness and spring is renewal, then summer is growth. Full bloom. It’s the moment when everything you learned finally comes alive: music, ocean waves, ice cream, and long sunny days. Maybe the hot weather is a bit overwhelming, but summer is still a season for relaxation, joy, and freedom. It’s a time to enjoy life with friends and family, to laugh, to live in the moment. Yes, worries still exist, but they feel lighter, almost like they wash away the moment you step into the water at the beach. Summer teaches you how to let go, how to breathe deeply, and how to feel free again, not just physically, but mentally.
Summer warmth slowly cools, and the colors of fall appear, painting the world in shades of orange, red, and gold. Fall is the bridge between the joy of summer and the quiet of winter, a time to reflect, to let go, and to prepare ourselves for new seasons ahead. The leaves change from green to bright oranges and reds, reminding us that change can actually be beautiful. School starts again, routines return, and life gets a little busier. Maybe you feel stronger now, or maybe you don’t. Maybe you are still figuring things out, still learning how to deal with stress, still trying to keep moving forward. That's okay. Fall is a season to enjoy the world around you anyway, take a walk, breathe the crisp air, grab a pumpkin-flavored drink, and remember that you’re still growing, whether you feel it or not.
I associated the seasons with a purpose, but your seasons might look different. They might not show up in the same order, and they might not repeat in the same way. What matters is that every season in your life means something. Whether it’s slow, exciting, stressful, or joyful, each season teaches you something. Every season has a purpose.
Sonali Murali
