I personally love fall, the crispness of the mornings and the warmth of the afternoons suits my internal thermostat to a tee. So I've been lavishing in the weather lately. Well, for two or three days at a time anyway. That seems to be as long as the pattern holds. Just when I think Fall is here to stay it feels like Summer again.

Feeling bummed, I hung my jeans back in the closet and dug out shorts again--of course they weren't white--this is the south and it is after Labor Day--I chose a nice khaki pair. I dressed and joined Bertha for breakfast. She didn't seem to be daunted by the warmer weather and had on neon tie-dyed spandex shorts with a coordinating halter top and high-heeled sandals.

Recognizing my grumpiness, she asked what was bothering me. Of course I filled her in quickly, relating how the weather couldn't seem to make up its mind, that one day it was perfect and the next it was back to its old summer tricks. I didn't really expect her to commiserate with me--that's just not Bertha's style--but I certainly wasn't expecting her response.

Bertha said it reminded her a lot of me. That made no sense, how could the wishy-washy weather remind her of me? She was all too happy to grab her soapbox and explain.

Bertha reminded me that I seem to have a two or three day track record with several things in my life--you know that diet I started on Monday morning only to desert at the dessert bar later the same day or the sensible spending plan I adapted at the first of the month that didn't make it to the fifteenth.

I was about to hang my head in shame when Bertha reassured me that everything was okay and that maybe I could take a lesson from nature. Things aren't meant to change in an instant. There's an ebb and flow to it, a dance of sorts--two steps forward, one back, two steps forward, one back. But if I keep 'dancing', I will make the changes that are important to me, just like it will be Fall--for a while, anyway!

Once again, I was impressed by Bertha's insight and am determined to be easy on myself when I take that one step back. How about you? Are you dancing? We'd love to hear from you.

Jane


Jane Carroll, RN, BSN, Life Coach,
Bereavement Coordinator, Author
"Bertha-Size Your Life"
"Where the Joys Are: Bertha's Guided Journal"
www.berthasize.com
info@berthasize.com

Who would you get if you crossed Lucy with a popular talk show host?  Why Bertha, of course!  A zany redhead, who is always up to something and drags her sidekick along with her while she's dispensing down-home wisdom and perky advice for finding balance and joy in one's life.  Throw in a conniving nemesis, an antagonistic cat, lime green spandex and high-heels and you've got a book that's sure to tickle your funny bone and leave you wearing your thinking cap as you read and reread each vignette.