An Ode To Autumn

There is a moment that happens each fall, and it always catches me by surprise. For weeks, there is a certain type of magic in the air, coupled with a beautiful sense of excitement as the trees begin to turn into red and orange masterpieces. The days become crisp and cozy. The activities and rituals are fun and seem never-ending.

And then, suddenly, there are more leaves on the ground than on the trees. The colors become less vibrant, the days grow darker, and the bare branches of the trees begin to take over the landscape. Each year, trees must shed what is no longer alive. Then, they must stop, and rest for much longer than any of us might dare to.

For the next six months, the trees will rest. And then, In what will seem like no time at all, the tiniest buds will begin to form from the nothingness. Those buds will blossom into flowers and new leaves and new promise.

We too, can do the same.

Instead of rushing to spring, let us take the time to be still. First, we must pause and shed what’s no longer working for us. The practice of letting go now, is what will allow us to grow come spring. While time will seem to move faster as the holidays approach, I urge us to push back against the norm. To take things slower, to find stillness, and to rest.

This rest will deepen our root systems, help us grow stronger, and prepare for those tiny buds to grow in the spring.

Let us rest.