"The garden is growth and change and that means loss as well as constant new treasures to make up for a few disasters." —May Sarton
The flowers have faded and the last fruits have been picked for pies.🥧
Even the vegetables have been blanched, canned, and stored for winter. 🫙
The only things left in the garden are the dried flowers dropping their seeds and the tomatoes that will never ripen in the cooling temperatures.
For some of us, this feels like loss, and we want to cling to the beachy buzz of summer. 🏖️
Anyone else hate giving up their flip-flop freedom? 🩴 🙋🏻♀️
And how about the question that leaves us with a bushel full of uncertainty…the “what’s next” question.
What’s next now that the harvest is over?
What’s next now that the summer activity has subsided?
What’s next now that everyone is retreating to their cozy homes?
What’s next now that the colors have faded and the air is chilly?
Ugh…what’s next? Is there any certainty in a season of transition?
Yes, when you decide to look for it. 👀
And then change the question from “what’s next?” to “what if…”
Beauty in the Browns?
What if you step back and look for beauty in the dull shades of rust, brown and pale green? 🍁🍂🍃
What if you embrace the shift in busyness and take the chance to reflect on the possibilities?
What if you open yourself up to the calming energy of autumn?
And…what if you use this time to prepare the way for hope and change?
Yes, winter is coming, and as the gardener knows, she must clear the dead debris from the drying soil.
And yet, it is not only the gardener who needs to make space for the next season. We all experience this transition.
We must decide how much space we will make for whatever is next.
Constant Change
We don’t always notice, but these changes in energy show up in the shifts between every season. 🪻🌺🌻🥀
This month, whether you need to clear your garden or you are looking at the piles of flip-flops by the door…welcome fall’s reminder to let go.💨
Release summer’s vibrancy and sweet flavors. 🍉
Make space for what’s next…the new season’s harvest of hope, health and happiness. 🌾
Now it’s your turn to plant a new seed of “letting go”. 🌱
This week:
1. Start with a “what if…” question. Get still and listen to what your inner wisdom says about creating space in your life.
2. Identify one person, object, or experience it’s time to release back to the flow of life. Be gentle with your heart…this is not easy, especially when we release relationships we’ve spent too long “forcing” into continuing.
Write three details about why you are grateful for this person/object/idea.
3. Imagine your life after this release. What does this “space” feel like? Imagine keeping the space open without immediately filling it with something or someone. What would that feel like?
By exploring these questions, you can gain a deeper and longer laster experience with “letting go” in all areas of life.
For me, this week’s questions reminded me to “let go” of…
-My unrealistic desire for “perfect” writing. It doesn’t serve anything if it stays in my WIP folder.
-My colorful, fruitful garden. I released it to find its winter rest. And I might get some rest too!
What will you “let go” of this week? Need more inspiration and practice? You may find it’s also an inside job.
