September 30th 2023

Lessons from a Sycamore 

Every season brings their own feelings, reflections, and anticipation, but autumn makes me think about change more than any other. The red maples have begun to turn, and the locust are changing too. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the necessity of letting things go to make room for new things. I’ve always had a tendency to hold onto things for too long. And yet today I find myself considering the sycamores. The stems of sycamore leaves are hollow because the new leaf bud forms and gradually forces the old leaf out. It gives me some comfort to know that perhaps I’m not the only one holding on. Living with one foot in something new and occasionally tugging on threads from previous seasons. Maybe it’s okay if change and growth and letting go looks different for all of us. It’s ok to take your time shedding leaves. The sycamores are just as radiant as any of their deciduous peers when they finally decide to let go.