A New Season

One of my favorite conversation starters is asking, “Is it Friday yet?” or “It’s Friday, right?” Generally, a pause, thoughtful look, then a puzzling glance. Suddenly, I’m hooked to the person! Now we can converse about the weather, the price of gasoline, or anything else interesting for the moment.

Someone shared with me yesterday that we (my bride and I) are entering a new season of life. We buried dad last week, my sister, just 3 months ago, I turned 65 nearly 2 weeks ago, and my bride’s last day at work was yesterday! Today we party! Next week we escape for a few days!

A New Season!

We understand the seasons that fall on the calendar, but many don’t recognize the day’s description – solstice, equinox, vernal, autumnal… The solstice is when the earth is tipped away from or toward the sun, thus making for the shortest and longest day of the year. The equinox is when the sun is almost directly over the equator. The hours of the day vs night are equal. Vernal is spring. Autumnal is fall.

The names dictating the season are different for each hemisphere. You know. North Hemisphere vs South Hemisphere. Above the equator, or down under!

• Vernal equinox (about March 21): day and night of equal length, marking the start of spring
• Summer solstice (June 20 or 21): the longest day of the year, marking the start of summer
• Autumnal equinox (about September 23): day and night of equal length, marking the start of autumn
• Winter solstice (December 21 or 22): the shortest day of the year, marking the start of winter
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All interesting words, but most just want to know the date.

We Start a New Season

So, for my bride and I, 2020 is the start of a new season of life. We both hit that magic medicare age of 65, she gets to retire, and we get to figure out what our next generational life looks like.

But one thing I note, there’s nothing unique about the astronomical equivalency of a date that we can define on a calendar. Life plays a big role in seasonal living.

Here’s my perspective.

To enjoy any new season, you must prepare a long time in advance…

Think about a farmer preparing for the spring planting. Which seeds to plant, and where do they come from? Is the soil prepared? Do you need fertilzer now, or later? Is the equipment up to the task. Has the weather turned sour? Is the ground too wet? Dry? Are your bones up to the task?

You can make the same logic apply to any career! Or a task. Or journey, even your final trip.

At yet another farewell, yesterday I was asking everyone are they prepared for their final journey. Is your plan made? Does anyone know your wishes? How much will it cost? Where does the money come from? Have you made provisions for those left behind?

This list can be an endless review of the present life and possible choices. Regardless, if you do not make the plan, someone else will step in with their own plan.

Just as a season may start astronomically, or via a calendar date, what leads up to that moment is crucial to the success of the start.

A few months ago in November, we were having cold snaps. Down into the teens at night, and barely up to freezing during the day. It was officially “Fall”. Winter was weeks away. But we were experiencing temperatures normally associated with the Next Season.

Next Season

Think about it. The Next Season can have symptoms earlier than planned for. The present season can experience symptoms from the previous, or next, season. There’s no rhyme, reason or logic to what you experience. Perhaps you get a gist of what was, or what is to come, and that should be all the warning you need. It may be all the preparation time you have to understand your Next Season.

For example. Take your savings and investments. How much do you have now should the next season catch you unaware and way too soon?

The calculated result of starting with a thousand dollars, faithfully adding just 20 dollars a month, and earning a modest interest of 5.3%, at the end of 30 years you should have a compounded saved/invested amount of nearly 24 thousand dollars.

Is this enough for your next season of life?

To save for 30 years into the future, start with an opening amount, and faithfully add to it each month. Your consistency, and the market rate, shows you what it takes to prepare for the Next Season… Only you, and the future, will know if you’ve done it well!

Prepare Now for Then!

Now. Apply the same principles to personal growth, relationships, family, friends, and even your spiritual person…

Everything done now is preparing for then! What you do today better prepares you for your Next Season of life. Scrimp and it will be a miserly experience. Lavishly prepare and you will enjoy the fruit of your labors.

Dave Ramsey famously says it like this:

“If you will make the sacrifices now that most people aren’t willing to make, later on, you will be able to live as those folks will never be able to live.” ~Dave Ramsey

Lately, I’ve been hearing it more. “Act your wage!” In other words, don’t try to live beyond your means! This is how you prepare for your Next Season!