Autumn: Seasons of Life

“All the trees are losing their leaves and none of them are worried.” Donald Miller

All summer and into early fall monarch butterflies have crossed my yard floating on soft currents of warm wind.  My three-year-old grand-daughter, Brielle, has been fascinated with them. Over the weekend we went out into the back yard to find a monarch on the ground still. It had died not able to survive the cooler weather.  As I stared at the lifeless, delicate orange and golden wings I was reminded of the seasonality of my own life. My reflections brought me to ask, what can autumn show me about accepting change and the impermanence of life?  

Observing the leaves bursting into bright colors then fluttering to the ground as they die reminds me of a valuable life lesson. Autumn illustrates the beauty of letting go, of trusting. For many of us change causes fear of not being in control. We resist change believing that in order to be safe, we have to think our way into routines of predictability. We cling on to our lives and this causes us to suffer.  The Buddha said that suffering is not inherent in the world of impermanence; suffering arises when we cling. When clinging disappears, impermanence no longer gives rise to suffering.

The mysterious and magical nature of life is living through us.  And once we accept, allow and surrender to what is unknown, we have more capacity to live life to the fullest. We are free to welcome change and the seasons of our lives with more curiosity and passion. I’m pretty sure that is what The Buddha was saying. Allow your leaves to fall to the ground without worry. Let go.