Little speaks more to my age than how quickly the seasons are passing.

Only yesterday, the crocus were starting to poke their heads through the frozen dirt, and now summer is quickly fading as  autumn once again prepares for its annual debut.

I realized that the awkward stage between seasons had arrived  as I was pedaling my bike the other evening.

Only a few weeks before, I had been watching the sun rise on my daily bike rides.

Now, the  sun is rising later each day and making an earlier and earlier farewell, so I am riding in the evenings instead of the mornings.

As I do, I’m observing the days are getting shorter and shorter but the leaves aren’t yet changing and the temperatures can’t decide whether I should be wearing  flip-flops or boots.

We are officially at that “in-between stage.” And I am grateful.

A few years ago, I would probably have tried holding on to what was slipping away while reaching out to what was just beyond my grasp on the horizon. In doing so, I would have lost the beauty and purpose of “in between.”

Now I appreciate it.

“In between” isn’t about wasting energy on mistakes or worrying about future decisions. Instead it is about accepting who we are and encouraging ourselves to do better.

“In between” isn’t about regretting all that we missed but is about appreciating all that currently surrounds us.

And ” in between” isn’t about hoping that the future holds more than the past. “In between” is about appreciating the present moment for exactly what it is.

“In between” is about recognizing the joy and potential in every minute regardless of our age, expectations or previous losses.

“In between” is about learning to appreciate the gift of the present while accepting that we can’t always control our current circumstances or our future.

And,most importantly, ” in between” is about paying attention to what others might dismiss as mundane but is actually miraculous.

Here is to “in between.”