It’s the early days of winter in my part of the world, and technically, there is no autumn season, and when winter kicks in properly, we rarely get any snow. There is the possibility of rain falling at random as the temperature drops to cooler degrees, then all of a sudden, there is bitter cold, sometimes blazing sun and dry air.
In winter, the leaves sometimes dry up and remain stuck between tree branches. Some trees do not wither at all, and as expected, some trees shed a lot of their leaves, stripped bare to just twigs and branches.
I drove into the open parking area of the gym on a cold morning and noticed the pavement was covered with leaves, lots and lots of them. It created a massive bed of golden leaves, which refused to part even as I drove on them into the parking lot.
I noticed the garden service was hard at work; some workers were busy \with a rake on the lawn, some were busy with brushes on the footpath, and one lone worker walked purposely in circles with a leaf blower.
As he took each step, blowing the leaves in one direction, I couldn’t help but notice the stark and contrasting difference between the beautiful golden bed of leaves on one side of the car park and the dull grey pavement on the other.
Then, like a dose of sharp wind, a question popped into my head, ‘Who is blowing your leaves?’
Let me explain.
In the different seasons of our lives, something that may have once been useful and important, something that may have once been beautiful, will ‘fall’ into the pits or pathways of our lives. Instead of being important, they now stand in our way.
Sometimes they pile so high that a mental rake of daily or monthly self-review or a simple brush of positive affirmation cannot get rid of it; we need the heavy artillery like a leaf blower.
The leaf blower can be a new book, a podcast, a life-changing or altering event, a mentor, counsel, and conversations from wise friends, a retreat, or even a significant loss that prompts us to go back to the drawing board and innovate, rebrand, and evolve.
The butterfly teaches us a timeless lesson: we don’t bloom or ‘glow’ all year round. To grow, we must evolve. From larvae to pupa, to caterpillar and then into a beautiful butterfly, we must be sensitive to our stages and phases.
Just like autumn leaves, there may be seasons when it seems your finest moment is coming to an end, and there is a temptation to hold onto it a little longer. But like spring promises, leaves will grow again, no matter how long the winter may seem.
What autumn leaves are you holding on to? What was suitable for the past but is a roadblock to your future?
Like beautiful autumn leaves, it may seem lovely to look at for a time, but outdated habits and methods become like dirt and must be thrown away.
Perhaps it’s a method/approach, a routine, a mindset, or even a relationship or work ethic. It could be your sleep or eating patterns, complacency towards spiritual matters or irregularity of positive habits; it is time to blow those leaves away and make room for new growth.
Perhaps it’s like a backyard that was once green and beautiful. In autumn, when you blow away the leaves, all you see is dullness and dryness. However, without that necessary clean-up, there’s no room for new, beautiful, and better opportunities.
Think of yourself like a rocket; to push up to certain altitudes, it must shed a layer of its exterior. Take a moment to ask yourself: What layers do you need to shed?
Like autumn leaves, you may only need to discard some things frequently, but only temporarily or for a season. Go through the necessary process that will make you the person you have always dreamt of becoming.
I wish you speed, strength and light on your path as you ‘rake’ up and discard anything and everything that may have helped you in the past but is irrelevant to your future.
Feel free to leave a comment, ask a question, or reach out and connect with me on social media with the handle ‘Tomi Sule Emmanuel’. I can’t wait to hear from you!
