Spring is a symbol of youth, but it also means reflection on life and a new beginning for the elderly. Let’s think about the meaning of spring, which blossoms in the time that has passed.
Spring, the season of youth, is a colorful and brilliant spring, but the spring you see and feel is an endless spring of life. Who said that spring belongs to the young and not to the old? The spring of the young is a single-layered spring full of joy, but the spring of the old is a multi-layered spring that contains both joy and sadness.
The spring of youth is full of hope and possibility. Meeting a loved one, taking on a new challenge, and running toward your dreams-all these moments color the spring of youth in a brilliant way. During this time, there is no fear of failure. Rather, there is a belief that greater growth can be achieved through the lessons of failure. Therefore, the spring of youth is always bright and vibrant.
An old person’s spring, on the other hand, is a time when the many experiences and emotions accumulated over a lifetime are piled up. The past is a precious asset, and the past is like a lake full of waves that have accumulated and formed today. Just as there is no lake without water, there is no today without the past. Therefore, the more water there is, the more beautiful the lake is, and the longer the past, the greater the present.
There is no reason to be sad that you are getting older and will not see much spring in the future. It is a matter of pride that spring, which has been with us for a long time, is increasing by one more season. When I climb a mountain or walk a long distance, sometimes after walking ten or twenty li I look back and think, “I walked there,” and I feel happy and proud. And sometimes the scenery you see when you look back is more amazingly beautiful than when you went up. But it’s sad when you can’t find a single pearl in the memories you’ve walked through, and you can only grab a handful of rough grains of sand. My insignificant past always makes me sad today.
There is a single citrus tree in the front yard. Green shoots are beginning to sprout at the end of the eastern branch. The thick branches are also overflowing with green life. Soon, leaves will spread, flowers will bloom, and fruit will be produced. The family’s expectations are very high. But there is no news from the western branch. Half of the tree is dead. There is no spring on a dead branch. Last winter, when all the leaves had fallen and only the black stumps remained, I was worried that the tree might have died, but I also believed that it would come back to life in the spring. But I never thought that one branch would live and one would die on the same tree. But even in the midst of the snowstorm and cold, one survived the winter and gave birth to life, while the other did not. The will to live of the eastern branch, which is strong and alive. The heartfelt resistance of the last three months of winter. And the unknown struggle and perseverance! I would like to express my infinite respect and admiration.
Just as we can see life and death in a single tree, we must accept the fact that hope and despair coexist in life. Therefore, an old person’s spring is not just a change of season, but a deep reflection and philosophy of life. The attitude of welcoming this spring is different from the attitude of welcoming the spring of one’s youth. Now, instead of just running straight ahead, we stop and look around, recalling the path we have taken and slowly planning the path we will take in the future.
The sadness of an insect that lives for a year is that it will have no spring when spring passes. A tree will have ten springs if spring comes ten times, and a hundred autumns if fall comes a hundred times.
Depending on one’s lifestyle, the spring of a billion years in human history is the spring that is all stored in one’s body, and depending on one’s thoughts, the unforgettable and unique spring is only for a few days. Therefore, it is not only valuable to stay in the world for a long time and see spring many times, but also to feel spring as spring, to remember all the springs that have passed, and to reflect on the past without losing the past, which will enrich our lives without being disappointed.
Just as trees bud in the springtime, our hearts must be prepared for a new beginning. Even though our bodies are aging, we must keep our hearts as vibrant as ever on a spring day. I believe that such an attitude is the way to enjoy the true springtime of life. When we look back on the years that have passed, the wisdom and experience gained from them will help us prepare for a better tomorrow. Finally, spring is something that blossoms in our hearts.
Life, after all, is a continuous succession of springs. After today’s spring, another spring will come, and in that spring we will cultivate new hopes and dreams. Therefore, it is important to cherish the present spring, look forward to the coming spring, and make our lives more abundant. I hope that everyone who welcomes spring will realize this truth and live each moment faithfully.
