A Change in Season – A Change in You.
The change in seasons has always been interesting to me. It is like the seasons are shedding old layers in preparation for what is to come. As fall sets in, I watch the leaves drift to the ground; I begin to see the shape of each tree with more clarity. Branches emerge, twigs appear, old nests perch abandoned on the limbs. Some trees are tall and straight; some are more graceful; some are more bent and twisted in shape. The wind blows – more leaves fall to the ground.
Fall is the season when I recognize the opportunity to become personally more authentic. As human beings, we tend to hold our habits, perceptions, beliefs and routines far too long before we take a good hard look at them and then begin to shed them like the leaves around us. With that shedding, we begin to open our minds to new ideas and new experiences.
As fall progresses, we should embrace this time of exposure so that we can prepare ourselves for the New Year ahead. I have a friend whose husband recently lost his job. Although they didn’t live extravagantly, with their reduced income, they could no longer maintain their life style. With much regret, they sold their beloved home and gave away a good deal of their belongings. In the process, my friend found that, while it was a difficult time, she felt more cleansed. She found that she actually needed only a fraction of what she thought she needed, and with each carton that she packed, her personal and psychological burdens seemed lighter.
I am often amazed by the amount of unnecessary things we accumulate over time; things that mentally and physically weigh us down. We choose to not release them from our lives for fear of needing them someday. But imagine how much lighter we will feel when we release what no longer serves us a purpose.
It’s time to go through our homes and get rid of the clutter. It’s time to shed some of our current activities and try something new. Don’t be afraid of leaves falling to the ground – stretch your limbs in the wind and embrace change!
Tina C. Hines is the President and Life Transformation Specialist of For My Sister Friends LLC, an organization that strives to educate, empower and enlighten women as they embark on their own personal journeys.Tina’s professional career has always had one major focus – to help her sister friends recognize that an inner woman may by lying dormant within each of them and that reconnecting with that woman can transform their lives. Born and raised in Central New Jersey, Tina holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She has authored several articles and has appeared in the New York Times and on Good Morning America. She also hosts a yearly Remember Me retreat for women in the Caribbean.
For more information visit www.tinachines.com.
