What is it about the beginning? The tiny hints of change in the trees. A single leaf. Kind of like when you are making your own changes. Getting up earlier, eating better, getting outside more. Things like that. And the more you do it, the better things get. Like the leaves, each one thing makes life more vibrant.
That one little leaf spreads through the whole tree, and likewise, your whole life, your whole routine. If you start doing the thing at home, it starts to bleed into things at work. Into things with friends, your choices, with how you dress or how you take yourself out into the world.
Your other leaves start to turn, too. Thatโs the middle. When things have started to gain momentum โ everything has shifted from the dull of routine to the spectacular appeal of transformation. Something you started so long ago has finally gained momentum. Like the trees, that tiny change has taken over everything in the most beautiful way.
Next, though, comes all the leaves on the ground. Your hard work is in front of you, around you, above and below you. Thereโs the tree, the old you standing there, nothing left of what was. Instead, itโs at your feet, huge clusters of acorns and oak leaves falling in chunks all around you. The change is complete. That one leaf has led to this - the old you pared down to bare bark.
But now the leaves are down nourishing the soil, the acorns are down, the maple ods down, seeding. Soon, there will be new trees. Little ones, lots of them. Only some of them will make it, of course, but as you stand there with all the saplings from a year ago, you can see nature is making ready to try again.
Likewise, some versions of the new you will grow into the next season; some wonโt. A tiny leaf of change, though, despite all the odds, will eventually turn into a brand new tree.
The same goes for you. ๐
I wrote this today, in the woods, my bike leaned against the tree, the urge to write it down enough to stop my ride. The dogs, Maple and Ellie, took a break. And I stood there, thinking about the beauty of the beginning, the middle and the ending of fall - and life changes. Another set of seasons, another revolution, another year of getting closer to one thing, and further from another. Some good, some sad, but always something beautiful arriving when the leaves start to turn again.