Walking Through the Woods

Tew’s Falls, Hamiton, ON, Canada

“Gentle Heart” by Joshua Hyslop - a soothing reminder to stay soft in a hard world. Feel free to press play and let the music accompany you as you read.

Walking through the woods, I noticed how the trees don’t let their past define them. They carry their green leaves through spring and summer, but as autumn arrives, they gradually shift to shades of orange and gold. The transformation is quiet, gradual, and graceful. As I continued walking, stepping on fallen leaves, I looked up - when the trees reach the height of their brilliance, they don’t cling to it. Instead, they release their leaves, letting them fall freely, embracing the inevitable cycle of renewal.

In their shedding, I saw forgiveness - a letting go, a release of the weight of what once was. As the trees stand bare, they reveal their vulnerability, unafraid to be seen without the glory of their past. They accept the imperfection of the process, trusting that each season will bring new growth and transformation.

There’s something comforting in knowing we don’t have to hold everything together all the time. Like the trees, we’re allowed to let go, to change, to begin again - softly, slowly, in our own way.