As I wrap up these last few weeks here in New Hampshire, the act of saying goodbye has become an interesting experience. Beyond the lunch and dinner dates to say goodbye, I’ve found myself bidding farewell not just to people but to the places I’ve come to rely on to bring me peace.

There is a place not too far from my home in which the wildlife is abundant and the flora is lush. I’ve spent over 20 years and countless summers walking those paths to my own peace, much like Pug’s Walking Meditation.

Embracing every season for its unique features, July was my favorite. The orange of the day lilies and lavender of the flowers whose name I never did learn, served my visual senses well. The Great Blue Heron could be counted on to make an appearance every evening around six o’clock to feed in the shallow brook which also was home to otter and mink.  The vibrant colors of July were a respite to the cacophonous lack of color that is New England in winter.

While there recently, I noticed something very interesting, not in the architecture of the landscape or the dynamic of the wildlife activity, but in my perception of the place. I noticed that all the colors have faded. Not the faded colors of rusted Chevrolets in Cuba and not the sun bleached colors of Caribbean houses. Faded like abandoned structures standing alone in a field in the middle of nowhere. The landscape was just…bland. Somehow the magic had faded and what was once a tool for my salvation had become merely a memory.

In further examination, it came to me that this was the soul’s way of helping me make the transition. It’s the soul’s processing, growing, transitioning of out the old and into the new. This is a necessary and fascinating part of change and wonderfully enriching experience should we decide to embrace it as a new and exciting experience.

The colors of my life have changed.

Day lilies, once my favorite flower, have faded and have been replaced with those delightful yellow flowers that make their home in the sandy and salty conditions of the beach. I am embracing these new colors of my new life.

My wish for you today is that you embrace your fading colors and rejoice in your own changes.

<*(((><

Copyright 2008 Diana Taylor
Photo credit: Diana Taylor, beach flower, Delray Beach, Florida

The Colors Of My Life
http://www.pugatthebeach.com/parquimetro.htm

Pug’s Walking Meditation
Page 17 in the book Pug At The Beach, An island dog’s reflections on life
Available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Pug-Beach-Island-Dogs-Reflections/dp/0974448400