Living Your Best Life In Winter: A Lesson From Nature
The February 2024 Full Moon is actually known as the ‘snow moon’, as it is one of the many signs of transition and shifting energies, think of it as spring waking up and winter fading away.
For most of the winter I have sat dormant, slow to move, eating more soups and heavier meals, and feeling extremely introspective. I joke with many that “I move at the speed of molasses” these days. Yet, the warm Texas temperatures and days full of sunshine have spring peaking early around here and that got me thinking…..
This past Fall we ‘lost’ a tree in our backyard. Truth is, it was our ONLY tree in the backyard. It leaned over a lot, provided an entire backyard of shade and I loved the crooked trunk and its unique appearance. I had big plans for that tree - birdhouses, windchimes and to sit under on hot summer days just to be under its protection. Sadly, due to the long, hot, dry summer days followed by the wet onslaught last October, the beautiful tree fell. Its life was over, or was it?
We needed to trim the branches (to protect the electrical wires from damage), and then we chopped up some of the wood for firewood. I mourned the loss of this tree most of the winter. And after reading The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben I realized that my reflections served a purpose and they’re worth sharing…
What can we learn from trees?
Winter is their dormant season
We all desire to thrive and be active and accomplish a mountain of ‘to do’ tasks. However, our bodies, like trees, need a season to be dormant. During winter we should grow, be more introspective, and reserve time to nourish and replenish so that we truly can ‘bloom in the spring’. One way I’ve begun to practice this is with my morning winter walks in the brisk cold, which I have absolutely LOVED. Instead of a high intensity workout indoors, I can actually see more trees, wildlife, and appreciate the quietness of the mornings.
Trees need community
We grow by not only nourishing ourselves but nourishing each other. Trees help each other and send resources (food/sugar) to the roots of other trees. We, too, can help our neighbors or strangers just by being kind, smiling, perhaps gathering a few gently used items in your house to donate to a local charity, or even giving a little of your time to spend with neighbors, seniors, or children. On my daily walks Arnie, my cavalier king charles spaniel, and I stop by to wave to neighbors, pick up trash, and he has several four legged friends he looks in on. It brightens even the gloomiest of days.
Trees fight for water intake
It is the fight for water (a competing resource) that ultimately determines the longevity of a tree. The long hot summer days often leave the largest trees the most susceptible to the continual warming of our earth and as trees age they become more and more fragile. Think about that, isn’t that true of us as humans? So what do we do to protect our fragility? To protect our health? That’s all I needed to know to focus on getting my daily hydration more consistently!
Trees savor sweetness
As I mentioned above, trees can share resources, one of which is their food (aka sugar) with each other. It is a daily reminder for us to savor the ‘sweetness’ of life. I have taken on the daily practice of trying to find ‘one sweet spot’ daily and give thanks. Sometimes my sweet joy is a handful of chocolate chips (literally) and others it is watching the hawk fly overhead and the cardinals peaking out on a bright and sunny day.
Trees are slow to grow
They are slow to grow (or at least display growth). Unlike the fast paced culture we live in, trees are patiently rooted in the earth and embody a quiet resilience, growing at their own pace. Their growth is not measured in days or weeks but in seasons and years. They teach us that true growth cannot be rushed or forced but must unfold naturally. In what ways have you been trying to rush progress? How can you adopt a more patient approach, allowing for gradual progress and growth over time?
While I surely miss my backyard tree, I’m so appreciative of the perspective it has revealed to me. I have been slow to plan what that space will look like in the future, I’ve been using the winter as a time of dormancy to give thanks for that special tree. I am not rushing to plant or fill that void, instead I am giving thanks and being intentional with what might happen in the backyard.
For now, I have also turned my attention to our tree in the front yard and it has been teaching me lessons as well. We put up an owl house late fall, and in early February, we had a little head poking out of the owl house.
Yep, an owl!!! What joy for our house!
So I have taken to leaving the binoculars on my desk for all of us to check in at dusk and dawn to see how ‘Hootie’, the screech owl is fairing. I think, although I am not certain, we have two screech owls in the house! And we are hoping that spring will bring a few owlets and growth of that tree out front. You see – the canopy, the trunk, the aging limbs of the tree are not lost on me. The tree is still growing and nourishing itself and those around it, what a reminder for us all.
And just like that the snow moon has signaled our transition from Winter to Spring.
In case we haven’t met, I’m Rebecca. a spunky, Jesus- loving entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and wine enthusiast on a mission to help go-getter women cultivate a happier and more fulfilling life by establishing healthy routines with sustainable, high quality food, beverages, and nutrition supplements. I want to help you live your best life! Here are a few ways to get started:
Looking for a community of empowering women to network with? Each month I host a free in-person (for Dallas ladies) and virtual event for women to gather and connect. Join us at our next event!
Download my Dinner & Wine Pairing Guide full of 10 days of nourishing meals & their perfect wine pairings and an invitation to a slower, more intentional way of life.
Try Clean Crafted Wine. Wine that is free of artificial ingredients & added sugar, so you can enjoy your glass of wine guilt free (without sacrificing on quality.)
Lose weight and get your energy back with Zallevo. The nutrition based and science backed supplements that have redefined energy, health, and vitality for myself and dozens of my clients.
