Spring in Colorado! One minute you are basking in the warmth of the sun rays…the next minute you bundled up under a blanket. Plant your flowers at your own peril! You just don’t know what you are going to get weather-wise. There’s a reason ski resorts call it the “shoulder season” – not reliable for skiing, but no reliable for hiking or mountain biking. It’s a tough part of the year for resorts, as there really isn’t much going on that can produce revenue.

It’s also a hard season for someone like me, who loves to be in nature on the weekend. Ski resorts are either closed, or minimal trails/lifts open, so no real skiing. Hiking trails are either covered in snow or muddy, so not very fun for a hike. This weekend is one of those weekends. My favorite resorts are closed for skiing, but it was snowing, so no hiking. And…it is in situations like this…I start feeling restless and cooped up being inside. I just want the weather to make up it’s freakin’ mind!

Ironically, we often face “shoulder seasons” as we wander along this path of life. They can be some of the most difficult to keep us motivated and not begin to sink.

• Your son or daughter is kind of out of the house, but not enough that you have the freedom to take off and do whatever your hearts desire is.
• You’ve left one job (or been laid off), but still don’t have the other job, even thought that looks very promising.
• You’ve broken off a relationship (or been left), but not to the point where you feel like you can enter into another one.
• You’ve “semi-retired”, meaning you are kind of retired, but not really.
• You’ve graduated, but not quite ready to head off and conquer the world, and living at home seems like the only option.

There are any number of situations in our life that can feel like a “shoulder season”. They are not fun. We just want one thing to be done and done for good so we can move on to the next part of our life. For most of you reading this post, you’ve experienced or, will be experiencing, a “shoulder season”. The issue isn’t if we will have them, it’s how we thrive in them. Three things I find help me keep a proper perspective:

• I remind myself this season is only temporary.
• I try to find even little things to be grateful for in this season.
• I look for one thing I can do to change my outlook.

Not more than 10 hours ago it was snowing…and right now I am sitting on my balcony with the sun rays warming my face…and my heart. In a couple of weekends this will all be a distant memory and I will be out on the hiking trails. I’m focused on getting my hiking and camping gear ready to go. I find my mind drifting to thoughts of being out in nature, hiking up the side of a mountain…and that brings a smile to my face…and my heart!