Spring: One Step Forward...Two Steps Back

 

Every spring in Pennsylvania tells a different story. One day brings sunshine and warmth, the next returns with biting wind or an unexpected chill. Just last week, temperatures climbed into the upper eighties—nearly ninety degrees—only to fall back into the forties days later.

It can feel disorienting. Almost like the season can’t decide if it’s ready to move forward.

And if you’ve ever walked through a life transition, you know this feeling well.

There are moments when everything seems to open up—clarity comes, energy returns, and hope begins to rise. You start to believe you’re finally stepping into something new. And then, just as quickly, things shift. Doubt creeps in. Progress feels stalled. You find yourself revisiting old patterns, old emotions, or unexpected setbacks.

It can feel like one step forward and two steps back.

This back-and-forth is one of the most discouraging parts of transition. It can make you question everything—your decisions, your direction, even your ability to move forward at all. The fog rolls in, and suddenly what once felt clear now feels uncertain.

And in those moments, it’s tempting to give up.

To tell yourself that nothing is working.

That you’re stuck.

That maybe this isn’t meant for you.

But what if this “unpredictability” isn’t failure?

What if it’s actually part of how change unfolds?

Spring doesn’t arrive in a straight line. It comes in waves—warming, retreating, stretching forward again. Beneath the surface, growth is still happening even when the air turns cold.

The same is true for you.

So before you decide that nothing is working, pause.

Look back—not to stay there, but to remember.

Remember where you started.

Notice what has shifted, even in small ways.

Acknowledge the courage it took to begin.

Recognize the consistency you’ve shown, even when it’s been hard.

Progress in transition is rarely dramatic. More often, it’s quiet and steady, revealed over time.