The First Snowfall of Another Season

We had the first snow fall of another season today, the day before Thanksgiving. I seldomly pay attention to the ways in which life is passing me by but lately it has been. All I have been noticing is how much things have changed and all I have done is ponder if these changes are good or bad. See, there's still things I need to learn and one thing in particular is that change, when it happens, is meant to be, and the pieces fall whether we allow them to or not. I am not the same person I was last year, it seems the years tend to bring a new, unfamiliar skin to wiggle around in. I don't know what next year will bring. It feels good just to be alive for another day even though I have lost a lot and suffered many shortcomings. This year, as the leaves began to fall- the days got shorter, colder, and the peaceful rains turned into a calming snowfall-- I began to watch life happen and I, too, happened with life. I have realized that most things are temporary and for once this did not sadden me nor did I wonder why.Since the pieces fall with synchrony whether we are paying attention or not- It occurred to me that I haven't taken hold of the simple pleasures enough--that many sunsets and snow falls have slipped away. Beauty falls through the cracks on a daily basis. The simple things in life are overlooked by other things that have complicated the day. The small things are what make life enjoyable. Life is bigger; it is in that one moment, when time stops, and you hear your own laughter, and for a second you feel the true essence of what being human is all about. Life is that joy and that is all I need. This past year, I spent my days crawling my way to somewhere, from nowhere, and in between that time...I lost myself. I lost treasured parts of myself trying to become somebody and again without realizing, I was already someone. So, I lost some time but I have today and hopefully many more days ahead.I honestly thought that things I can't change were bigger than hearing my own joy and laughter but they are not. The bigger picture is not only that things in life are temporary and that's OK--it is also that hearing your own laughter and sensing your own joy is timeless. Even if you cannot always feel happy-- try to walk with your head held high and feel the joy in every step you are able to make. And then one day it happens; that skin you wiggled around in, finally fits.