As autumn takes hold of the Nova Scotia landscape, trees release to the wind the leaves they’ve nourished since springtime. When frosty days come around, it’s time to let go.
Though we don’t have leaves to lose at this time of year, perhaps we too have things to release in this season of change…
Letting go of expectations is a good start. So often we hold such firm expectations of what life should be like at any given stage, how others should be, how we should be, that we fail to see the what is. Who would have thought a fungus could have petals or a log could hold a snowflake?
Wild creatures seem to have so much less of a problem than we do leaving possessions behind that no longer serve a purpose. It’s odd that we’re the beasts who fiercely hang on tooth and nail to clothes or homes we’ve outgrown and objects that would be better put to use by someone else. Who’ll find comfort from the winter cold in this abandoned flicker nest?
It’s not the daily increase but the daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential.
~ Bruce Lee
While summer’s abundant blooms shout out “More is more!” autumn’s Michaelmas daisies whisper wisely “Less is more.”
What about past successes? Don’t the things we’ve done well in the past tug at us to continue to do more of the same in the future? Letting go of these might seem ridiculous unless we consider the toll of doing work that does not fulfill or that may no longer be an expression of who we are now in this new season of life. A tree that foolishly clings to its beautiful, brightly colored leaves may be completely destroyed in a wind or ice storm.
Perhaps this letting go of our concept of self is the most difficult. Just as it’s easy to define a tree by its showy leaves, it’s all too easy for us as well to define ourselves simply by our outward skills and talents. We are so much more and still full of surprises, at any age. Hey, where did those raspberries come from so late in the year?
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.
~ Lao Tzu
Thank you for this lovely post. Letting go to make room for change – how important.
I really appreciate your gentle wisdom and quiet messages.
xoxo
Dawn thank you for your kind comment 🙂 🙂
An inspiring post again, Thank you !
“who let go,
has two free hands”
(China)
beratungimwienerwald, that is quite a fitting quotation. Thank you for adding it.
I have been missing you soooo much, but the wait was worth it. A very fine post indeed, and I thank you for it. A fungus with fat, cheery petals. Astonishing.
Everything I read or listen to today seems to be about memory and its tricks, the people we were and the people we will be–lots to think about.
This has been a season for letting-go for me, too, and there is more shedding ahead, but just for today I think I’m going to make a little addition. You reminded me that there are some raspberries to be picked up on M-88!
Gerry, I’ve stepped back from computer time lately, first by travelling to Northern Ontario to see family and then while getting back into the swing of things here in Nova Scotia.
I’ve been shedding so much over the past few months, if I was a cat I’d be coughing up hairballs!
Hope you managed to pick up your raspberries.
Thanks for a beautiful post and reminder of my purpose here. Our collective daily journey.
All the joy I have experienced in life has been as the result of letting go.
‘All the joy I have experienced in life has been as the result of letting go.’
Robin, now there’s an encouraging thought!
You have been missed, dear Miss Amy…your words seem melancholy in their wisdom. This change of seasons always makes me contemplative – letting go of another summer and its sunshine, letting go of the lazy days in the garden, watching the leaves as they let go….sigh. Love you!
Cindy Lou, it’s always hard to let go of the summer, even one that seemed a whole lot hotter and longer than past ones. Your words said it beautifully. Even though I enjoy the four seasons, I always feel sad when the long warm days come to an end.
I forgot to ask how your men overseas are doing? I’m thinking they should be due home soonish?!?! They are often in my prayers….love ya!
Thanks so much for your prayers Cindy Lou. The only one who was overseas is now back to his university studies. Another may go over but nothing firm yet.
Another wonderful post.
You see and express things so beautifully.
Thanks.
🙂
What I enjoy most about your posts is the way you teach greater spiritual philosophical truths using nature as your blackboard and chalk. I, too, love your quiet thoughtful peaceful posts. My whole being relaxes and wants to walk quietly in the woods. Loving you, Ms. Amy!
Thanks Kathy. You and I both know what a wonderful teacher nature is. We’ve both learned from the best. Someday, somewhere, we’ll walk together yet 🙂
I missed you, too, Amy-Lynn, and was happy to find this post today. I saw wheeling stars in several of your photographs. Thank you for the gentle thoughts, as well.
Pamela, I had to look back at all the photos to find the wheeling stars. You are SO observant. Thanks for pointing them out.
There’s a season for all things, and this one is perhaps the closest we come to a celebration of simplicity. This post is a wonderfully contemplative and honest evocation of the sudden surprises that can arise on a snowflaked log as easily as in our shifting and winding lives, the freedom born of letting go, of uncharted roads and starless nights. We have the chance of finding out what’s beneath the leaves. Thanks for the terrific words and images, Amy-Lynn…
Julian, thank you for such a lovely comment. Hopefully we’ll both find something wonderful beneath the leaves.
A wonderful metaphor!
Look out on Facebook for a pic I took yesterday of two beautiful autumnal leaves. Actually, inspired by the above, I may also blog this…
Pepsoid, I’m not on Facebook anymore but will surely check out your blog post.
[…] A Season for Letting Go […]
What a beautiful post!! Amy, your wisdom is simple and complete 🙂
Thanks swaps. Glad you liked it 🙂
Amy, you always have the most wonderful posts to meditate on. Thanks for this. As we move into our new home, I really should go through and donate what we don’t need.
I also wanted to add that I also bestowed a Lovely Blog Award to you over on mine. Have a great day!
Thank you so much Jessica 🙂
Wouldn’t it be nice to eliminate stuff before we pack it and bring it to a new place? But so often it seems that we don’t know until after we arrive at our new destination how little we really need.
I’ll be over for a visit soon.
I’d like to say I live by those wise words, but the ties that bind and the nets that ensnare are often too strong to cast off and disentanglement could endanger those we love. Hopefully those that choke can be loosened and we can escape from those that are merely leashes.
Cindy, how true. Thanks for adding such an insightful comment.
As always, your words and photos inspire me to think. Not an easy task according to many. 🙂
Scott, I don’t believe that 😉
Is that really a flicker’s nest? I photographed a tree at Blomidon with lots of holes and thought it was a woodpecker. I know the flicker is a woodpecker, but I never thought of it as making such big holes.
http://queensincanada.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/blomidon-provincial-park-nova-scotia/
Thank you for your blog. I will learn a lot from it.
Hi jackiequeen, nice to see you here 🙂
Yes it really is a flicker’s nest. Last spring I watched a pair of flickers make the hole larger and larger. I wondered when they were going to finally stop. It is a pretty big hole. You can see photos of them working on it at
https://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/2010/04/27/the-flying-anteater/
I will have a look at your Blomidon tree images.