What Is Your Favorite Season of the Year?
What is your favorite season of the year? Mine is fall. Brr—it’s definitely not winter!
The seasons of life are remarkably similar to the seasons of the year. In the springtime of life, we’re just beginning. This is when we start our careers, possibly get married, and maybe buy our first home. It’s the time for establishing ourselves, working our first few jobs, and laying the foundation for the future.
The next season is summer. During this time, many of us are raising children and focusing on safeguarding their future. We might be starting to think about retirement or considering a career change. Summer is also when we plan for family vacations and build lasting memories.
In the fall season of life, we begin to slow down and take stock of our journey. This is the time when many of us put serious thought into retirement planning. Some are already in retirement, reflecting on whether they’ve saved enough to do everything they dreamed of doing.
Finally, the winter season of life arrives. This is when we truly slow down, becoming more aware that life is finite. It’s a time to focus on what we can leave for our children, grandchildren, and future generations—a legacy of love, wisdom, and perhaps financial security.
Seasons of Life: A Personal Reflection
I recently reflected on this concept with two clients. One client has been with me for nearly 40 years. They’re still living independently in their own home and, within a few months, will reach the incredible milestone of 100 years.
The other clients I met with were a couple I’ve also worked with for nearly 40 years. They’re in a different season of life, and together, we looked back on the four decades we’ve shared. We discussed how the steps we took during the springtime of their lives ensured safety and security during the summer when they were busy raising children. Now, as their children have grown and left home, they are enjoying the fall season of life—cherishing the joy of grandchildren and reflecting on the legacy they’ve built. With the experiences of losing their own parents, they are beginning to prepare for what winter may bring.
A Full Circle of Seasons
I truly enjoyed piecing together the journey we’ve shared—the plans we made during the springtime of their lives, the fruits those plans bore in summer, and how those efforts are now sustaining them in fall. At some point, as winter arrives, life will come full circle.
I asked them, “Would it have made sense to discuss the fall and winter seasons back in the springtime of your lives?” They admitted it wouldn’t have. At the time, their focus was on the present—building careers, raising children, and navigating the summer season. Now, however, as they reap the fall harvest, they see how the steps we took back then are paying off, preparing them and their family for the winter ahead.
Embracing Your Season
Both of these clients are in a different season than they were 40 years ago. That’s why it’s so important to work with someone who has experience—someone who understands how life unfolds and can help you navigate the changing seasons.
So, what should your favorite season be? It should be the one you’re in right now. Whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter, embrace and enjoy the season you’re living in. At the same time, make plans for the season that’s coming. One way to do that is by scheduling your Financialoscopy®.
No matter where you are in life’s journey, it’s never too early—or too late—to prepare for what’s ahead.
