Walking in the forest in the spring is an opportunity to see fresh green leaves. On a recent hike at the Hoyt Arboretum in Portland, Oregon I marveled at the myriad shapes and sizes of these brand new tiny leaves. The colorful autumn leaves were long gone and now were replaced by vibrant new growth. Could this seasonal cycle of growing new leaves in spring and dropping leaves in the fall be a grand metaphor for us learning to actually drop things from “our plate”?
There are so many opportunities at work, in our families and in our community. It is easy to keep adding things to “our plate”. It seems easier for people to add things than to drop them. A supervisor may ask you to take on a new project. When has the conversation continued with….”And if you are going to add this to your plate, I need you to take something off your plate. What do you think you need to drop for now? ” A family member needs help, when did you pause and say…”if I do that, I think I”ll have to stop doing….”.
Perhaps taking a walk in a spring forest is an opportunity to become inspired to try being a little more deciduous.