Change Is In The Air
The days are starting to get shorter, the mornings starting to get crisper and the evenings cooler. Autumn is here. Perhaps initially its arrival is resisted by the summer vacation lovers, but nobody can deny it is one of nature’s most beautiful displays. Its own grande finale for the year, a fireworks show of sorts, celebrating the seasons before. For those who may dread change and all the mess that can come with it, the fall colours can serve as a little reassurance of how spectacular change can be. Watching as the leaves slowly turn colour before floating to the ground also reminds us that change can be a process, not an instantaneous switch. Rarely do trees suddenly go from green to dropping all their leaves at once. It’s a slow journey of transitioning from green to golden to red to perhaps brown and then slowly, with the help of a little cool breeze, what isn’t needed anymore drops away without effort. The trees don’t seem to care or stress about which leaf should fall first, they just seem to know that in time all the leaves that aren’t needed will be cast away. After all, hanging onto them through the winter snow does nothing but weigh down the branches, making them more susceptible to breaking.
Autumn is a great time to ask yourself, “what am I still carrying around from seasons before that I might not need this winter?”. You might look externally into your home environment; this may be a good time to tackle that accumulation of clutter around the house. After all, we know it will only serve as a stress point when you are seeking a cozy relaxing place to be in the winter. You might turn internally. Perhaps there could be some changes you’d like to make in your life. Let the fall leaves remind you that things don’t have to change all at once, and that the process requires patience (especially with yourself). Just as the tree doesn’t pay attention to the minute detail of which leaf should fall first, you too would be better off trying to stay focused on the overall goal, trusting that what isn’t needed will slowly fall away in time.
Fall is also the season when trees send all their energy to their roots. Follow their lead and put your energy into what grounds you as well as nurturing those connections that are most important to you. This will serve you much better than fussing about details, keeping up appearances or worrying about the perceptions of strangers. Having a good root system is what will allow for the vibrance and growth come spring. The trees know that there is no head start to be made by hanging on to the leaves from last year. If anything - having to clean out the old when you’re ready and eager to be building new will only risk slowing the process and may dim your enthusiasm.
Don’t wait for another season to go by, the show is already beginning in some places! Get outside for a hike or even a scenic drive and let nature remind you that change might not be such a bad thing after all. Find yourself a perch and allow the autumn colours and their reflections on calm waters show you the beauty and celebration of this season of change. Then, go get yourself ready - I can’t wait to see what your grande finale will be like this year!
“The trees are about to show us how beautiful it is to let go.” - unknown