The Season of Letting Go

Autumn is the season when you let only the green ones stay —
the ones still alive,
the ones joined to you that the wind won't carry off.
Don't be afraid, even if you're sure that at the end of these days nothing will stay with you but your roots,
because spring always comes on time, and gives its freshness only to those who don't cling to old things that are no longer theirs.

Autumn is the season of letting go,
the season of not being afraid —
not afraid of letting go of everything you were never meant to keep for ever.

Believe me, trees tremble at first too, at the thought of the changes coming to their days.
They're afraid that without their green spring shirt,
without blossoms,
they won't be beautiful.
But little by little they see how magnificent they are even without the things they cling to and think are all they own in the world.

Trees are beautiful in autumn
because they give their hearts to change and to a new life.
They know that until they let the leaving ones go, there's no room for the arriving ones.

Trees have no calendars; they know better than anyone when it's time to let go.
When it's time, be autumn too — nothing will be taken from you that doesn't add to your beauty.