In life, the proverbial grass is very rarely greener on the other side — especially when it comes to the seasons of the year.

In fact, that same grass may always end up being wetter, hotter or more frozen than we ever would have hoped. My how easily we forget!

For many years, I seemed to jump through the same mental hoops when it came to the seasons.

In spring, I told myself, “Wow, I can’t wait until summer finally gets here.”

Like a kid at Christmas, I counted the days until the sunny summer days finally arrived.

Two weeks into the season, I was cursing the heat and running to the air conditioner like a starving man who sees a T-bone.

Sure, I love hitting the lake for a swim or going camping but each year it seems like it gets hotter and hotter.

I don’t need an army of scientists to tell me that global warming is a reality.

Someone else can take readings and do surveys and gather samples. All I need to do is walk outside and see how quick the sweat starts rolling.

When fall arrives, I am happy. It has always been my favorite time of the year.

Rainbow displays of leaves, pumpkin pie, football and all the other season staples are just some of the things that makes autumn special.

Inevitably, by November or so my mind starts to drift longingly toward December and those white winters that we all enjoyed so much when we were children.

Two snows into the season and spring starts sounding like a good idea. Snowball fights and sleigh rides sound good until the thermometer hits those single digits.

Finally, I am longing for those signs of spring — singing birds, blooming flowers and cool mornings.

And then the spring rains start. It rains. And rains. And rains.

So it goes, on and on — season after season.

Now, like someone who has had an epiphany that puts the pieces of life into place, I am finally realizing that the grass isn’t greener on the other side of the season.

I am starting to realize that life is just too precious to waste it fretting over the weather or the seasons.

We all need to remember that our time on this planet is never guaranteed and we shouldn’t take anything for granted.

I guess we should stop and smell the proverbial roses — even if they are frozen, wilted or waterlogged.

All those same things that can aggravate us — the heat, the snow, the rains — are the little things we will likely miss one day.

Michael Caldwell is publisher of The Ironton Tribune. To reach him, call (740) 532-1445 ext. 24 or by e-mail at mike.caldwell@irontontri

bune.com.