The November air is settling in; the crisp freshness fills my being with each breath as I walk along the canal . I don’t typically go on walks so close to evening in these cooler months, but there’s magic all of its own. The colors of the sky are gray and blue but the golden light of the crescent moon peeks through. Stillness. I glance over to the water and notice ducks wading; their swimming make small waves in the quiet water. A sense of joy overcomes me. An energy fills my being. These little moments remind me of the gradual beauty in the changing season. There’s a calmness.
Ahh, I feel my heart say.
Typically I dread the cooler weather. It makes me think of cold fingers and toes. Icy roads. Stuffy noses and dry throats. But this year, as the chill air nestles itself here in Rochester, I’m filled with a renewed outlook with the changing seasons. Cozy socks. Hot tea. Snow angels. Warm sweaters. Although the evening gets dark sooner, the moon comes and reminds me of my own inner light peeking through the darkness—an inner light that we all have.
As someone who struggles with anxiety, sometimes it can be hard to untangle myself from my thoughts. Oftentimes in these moments, I turn to the wisdom of nature to let it speak to me in a profound way revealing the message I need to receive.
I look around me. The birds fly in the open sky. The leaves skip across the sidewalk. The smell of autumn infuses the chilly air. These are all reminders to stay grounded in the present moment without feeling the need to change anything. Nature teaches me patience. It teaches me that there’s a time and place for everything; there’s no need to rush.
I watch the clouds cover the moon like a curtain closing. I remind myself that my thoughts are like the clouds that pass by, sometimes hiding my own inner light. And as I watch the clouds gently waft onward, the golden glow comes shining through on the other side again. I smile to myself because I tend to grasp at my thoughts. Clinging. But just as I can’t grab hold of the clouds—thin air—there’s no need to cling to my thoughts. I’m reminded: the inner light never left; it’s merely hiding behind the gray.
Nature is a beautiful example of surrender. The trees surrender to the wind, swaying softly. The water rests calmly under the evening sky. Snow falls gently, tenderly to the earth—no rush.
I continue to learn the same lesson over and over. Be present. Stay attuned. Embrace the simple beauty. Discover calmness by surrendering to the seasons. Allow the discomfort to pass by like the clouds. Trust. The barren trees of winter will soon be clothed in blossoms. The flowers of spring trust the rain will bring them life. It’s the process, a dancing of time.
I come inside from my evening-lit walk, the air inside feels warmer. My cheeks are rosy. My spirit feels awakened and enriched. Gratitude fills my heart.
Remember: Even when the clouds in your own life—whatever it is for you—appear to cover up your inner light, know that your golden glow never left. It merely hid behind the gray, but will reappear again. Just like the moon.
Stay cozy!
Serenity and love,
Colleen