Autumn Leaves: Let Things Go!

Recently I was having dinner with friends and as we were discussing the December holidays (no, I’m not getting ahead of myself here….stick with me!), I mentioned wanting to continue something I started last year as a means to develop a new tradition that made sense for my life currently. Simply put, I want to take one night and visit friends and family for brief intervals of time (bringing eggnog and rum along to share of course!) as a sort of mobile open house. One of my friends offered further contextual explanation to the group that this was a replacement for highly festive, season-long, large-scale traditions I’ve enjoyed previously but don’t make sense in the life I am living now.

On the drive home, traveling through the splendor of New England fall foliage, I recalled a quote, “Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.” I reflected on how much energy it takes to hold on to practices, people, activities, attitudes…..the list could go on and on, right?!......that no longer serve our greatest well-being or life situation. I also reflected on the amount of mental space and emotional resources it takes to hold on to the old when trying to make/do/be something new. This drains our spirit selves and energy reserves! It isn't possible to do both and reach the outcomes we want. Sometimes the holding on to the old is simply a nostalgic longing because of all the wonderful memories and moments associated with that “something”.

What autumn teaches us is that we can fully embrace a time and place, person and memory without diminishing its value or meaning by letting it go from the forefront of our consciousness. Autumn reminds us so vibrantly of the cycles of life and this incredible journey we all have before us. There is a rhythm and flow, Divine perfection, in the lessons these autumn leaves teach us. October has arrived! Let this colorful and soulful season bring to awareness the practices, people, activities and attitudes that do not serve us today. Let’s lovingly recall the lessons of a previous time and place and then let them go. Acknowledge the natural seasons of change and boldly be in the present to embrace all that it holds!