Leaves are falling outside my window. We live far south in the U.S., and the mulberry held its leaves almost to the end of the year.
Still, it doesn’t hold them forever. A broadleaf tree knows when it’s time to let go.
This year’s leaves are dry and used up. They can no longer nourish the tree. If the tree clung to them, they would shade next year’s fresh leaves, and starve the tree of the light it needs. By letting its leaves die this year, the tree can live next year.
A few days ago, I was low and worried. Some of the things I used to do are not working for me. And in our country and our world, many old systems are failing. People are afraid and hurting.
Yesterday, I listened to another Martha Beck coach, Terry DeMeo, talk about which of our tools are best in a time of crisis. She beautifully reminded me that crisis is a time of death and rebirth. Old possessions and ways of being must die to make room for the new.
We have been living in ways that cannot last. We have used resources faster than we replace them, and hidden costs with creative accounting. Often we were doing the best we could. Reality, the final critic, has come along to point out our mistakes.
So now we know which leaves are dead. Let’s drop them, and try again.
We are humans instead of trees. So we can value our old leaves, and tell stories about them, and put little parts of ourselves in them to feel it when they dry and fall. We can also choose renewal.
Renewal feels a lot better. I was forgetting, as I sometimes do, to use my tools for myself. My thanks go out to Terry, for reminding me of the methods we have for easing the time of dropping old leaves and moving to the time of renewal. I’ve stopped feeling blue about what I’m letting go of, and begun to feel excited about what comes next.
I’ve started wondering - if workers weren’t losing their jobs in old industries, where would we get the people we need to make the green products of tomorrow? If we don’t drop our old leaves, where will the new leaves grow?
I know - I’ve struggled myself - how hard it can be to let go. It can really hurt when it’s time for the old leaves to fall. If you are suffering and afraid now, I really understand.
And I would like to help you. The coaching tools work. Please call me at (575) 640-0979 to make an appointment. Those of us who start renewal sooner will lead the rise when the economy turns around.
Last Chance!
I suck at marketing. So I am going to have other people market the Wishing to Writing Course. To cover their fees, I will be raising the price to $37 at the start of 2009. Until December 31, you can still buy it for $27 at www.WishingToWriting.com. Soon after that, I will take down that website.
The Wishing to Writing Course will still be a bargain at $37. Knowing what’s in it earlier in my life would have saved me years of writing pain. It solves the seven greatest problems that kill creativity and brings writing into your life one easy step at a time. So go to www.WishingToWriting.com/Writing_Course, scroll down, and hit the Buy Now button. Do it now before the price goes up.