build your beautiful self

The leaves fall through the rays of sun and litter the yard with crimson and gold. The way they flow through the air so gracefully, like a dance, is a reminder for us to remember that nothing beautiful happens quickly.

Beauty is a slow process and appears to dance on the wind as it flows to the ground where it lays so perfectly for a curious soul to pick up and carry.

Life’s dance is like the dance of the falling foliage. In its’ youth it is vibrant and colorful. It clings to the branch for protection and nutrition. The little green star grows into maturity and is adored by passers-by since the season before, when the trees were bare, was brutal and vicious. The little star is a sign of life and rebirth and growth. Gives a new spirit to this place and to you. Everything is coming to life, birds chirping, flowers blooming, grass growing and the joy of being a child able to once again play outside without layer upon layer of weight on your shoulders. You are free!

Life as it always does, goes along and we are healthy and strong. Building the tree ever taller as the sun is absorbed through the channels of the little leaf. Just as the tree is providing nutrition and water to the leaf, the leaf is providing energy to the tree. The game of give and take and energy transfer between beings. Spring gives way to summer and the collection of leaves along with the foundation of the tree provides shade from the sun to protect us, just as your family or sphere of influence does. This is the prime of this point in your life. You are strong and growing and protected and you have a sense of purpose like that leaf. You provide energy to those around you and protection to those who love you. You are building a foundation upon which you stand and are firmly rooted. This is true power.

Then, the sun doesn’t stay in the sky as long. It loses minutes to shine with each passing day. You feel as though you must make a change. The little leaf is still hanging on to its’ home, but it feels the chill and the dark approaching. It watches as those around it start going through changes. It is no longer growing, but is fully grown and is at the peak of life. As the leaf does, your color in life changes. Priorities are different and even your personality. The leaf becomes a beautiful color. It shines brightly and people walk by with admiration of its’ beauty. But the people sometimes can be saddened by what they see, for the full-fledged beauty of the fall colors on this leaf only means that winter will be along soon. It is looming.

Then, the season changes abruptly. An inclement weather day, causes the branches of life to sway and shake. The leaf watches as friends get torn from their safe haven and are taken away. It does its’ best to hold on because it doesn’t want to get lost in the storm that is surrounding it and taking away the shelter that others are providing. It becomes fearful. People become fearful when things aren’t going well for them. They may do and say things that they may not have said before the fear. They may decide, just like a leaf to make changes in their lives. Sometimes for the best, sometimes not. The leaf decides to push away from its’ life support. It finds the most beautifully sunny day to release all that was.

Then it happens. Release. The stem of the leaf and the branch separate themselves from each other. The sadness and turmoil are finally over. With that release the leaf feels the gravity of the situation. It is also light and airy after the removed attachment. I watch in amazement as it floats on the breeze, twisting and turning so I can see both beautifully colored sides in the sunlight. I watch as it floats to its’ landing spot on the ground. Sometimes, I walk over and pick that leaf up and admire it. I hold it in my hand and my heart because of the form and the beauty I see within it.

With that, the leaf is scooped up and thrown. When challenges arrive in one’s life, You can work through it and be thrown away or you can learn from it and grow into a new person. The leaf will be reborn on that tree and go through the cycle all over again until the dance on the breeze when it is at its’ most beautiful state. Be like the leaf. Be resilient and bold, strong and beautiful, and when you’re weak, fall to the earth in a stunning way. Allow others to see your beautiful dance. They will admire you and want to see you again. They will wait for your return to a beautiful life and you will be, once again, vibrant and bold! Nothing in life is permanent. You are allowed to change and grow so do it!

Cheers to fall. I hope you enjoyed. Would love to see some commentary on this idea.