REWIND: A Season of Shedding

Hey Everyone! Now that the weather is finally on its way to feeling like fall, this felt like a great time to run back this episode on shedding. Is there anything in your life that you need to shed right now? Let's chat about it. 

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Transcript

Hey Everyone! I hope that all is well and that you are feeling joy in some capacity as you navigate through the week. Last week it was a bit gloomy in my neck of the woods, which can be challenging for me sometimes. I thrive in warm weather, in the growing season, and as long as there are no bugs, I enjoy the outdoors. I know that sounds crazy coming from someone who actually enjoys gardening, but I am still working on developing a relationship with the outdoors that is centered around loving that environment holistically. 

I can’t believe that October is here y’all! Time is timing right now. It’s doing its thing and hopefully, we are doing our thing right along with it because what I’m sure you know just as well as me is that it waits for no one. So I encourage you to continue spending it in a way that really matters to you. And if that is not something that you practice currently, please take steps to start prioritizing it. 

Now that fall is in full swing, although it doesn’t actually feel like it outside today, but I was reminded of the functionality of the seasons. And since we are in fall, this season in particular has been on my mind. And what is one of the main things that you think about with fall? For me, its’ falling leaves- shedding, releasing, preparation. 

Getting into gardening has really allowed me the opportunity to appreciate the ecosystem that is nature and how everything really truly works together to serve a purpose. Sure, trees shed and they grow new bright, vibrant leaves in the spring, but once a leaf is shed, is that it? 

I once saw a shed leaf as having no purpose aside from maybe an art project for school. But now I understand the importance of that which is shed. It absolutely continues to serve a purpose, just in another form. 

A shed leaf is a powerful thing. It replenishes the soil, going back into the earth to feed other plants in the form of compost. It protects those small creatures that need a place to hide during the harsh winter months. AND it serves as a keepsake in the form of art created using its dried crisp form. A pile of shed lives is a place of joy for a child looking for a safe place to flop and giggle from the leaves pouring down over their head. You get the picture by now, but there is truly great power in all that we shed. 

Whenever we shed, we emerge as a more refined version of ourselves. We exfoliate to leave behind smoother skin. We shed tears to release- to cleanse or free ourselves. The act of shedding allows us to leave behind the old and lighten the load. 

But once we shed something, I want to encourage you to remember what that shed thing symbolizes, and what it has to offer you now in its new state. Is it rebirth? Simply a new look? Did you shed by releasing your story and what is left behind is a testimony to share with the world? How does what you have shed serve you now? How does it serve those you shared the process with?

I wanna share a few thoughts on shedding for you to chew on, remember, apply, etc: 

1. Do you believe that what you shed needs to automatically be discarded? If you’ve shed something and need time to heal, or maybe you are ready to address it right away- take a moment to just think about if this is something that you need to discard. Sometimes, we may feel an attachment to something that we think we should be done with and there is most certainly a reason why. So if you are feeling that tugging- that trouble of finally shedding- there may be a reason why you are holding onto that thing. Maybe it’s not time for you to fully discard it just yet.

1. I want you to ask yourself How have I repurposed what I have shed? Think of all of the thrift stores, resale sites, rent to own options- do y’all remember rent a center?

Well, stuff- whether material, emotional etc, has a lot more value than we often consider. I’m gonna go back to the garden and produce as an example. Many of us only use a certain part of the produce that we consume. The outer layer of the onion, flowers from fruits, the green tops of things like beets and carrots. These are things that we can eat. 

But oftentimes, we discard these components, only thinking of them as part of the vehicle that was needed to get the main part of the plant onto our plates. What we end up discarding though are tons of beneficial nutrients that our bodies could use to thrive. Or we could use those components as compost that goes back into the earth to feed what’s to come.

We always have to remember that we aren’t here to waste anything in life, right? If you’re getting nothing from what you’ve shed- a lesson, a new purpose that’s been revealed, transformation for your testimony- if you have received nothing at all- you have essentially wasted your shedding process. So reflect on what you’ve shed and think about what it is that you can yield from that old skin.

1. I want you to ask yourself -Is there something in my life right now that I need to shed? It is fall after all, ya know?  So, What in your life needs to be shed right now? What is it time to see the next iteration of? And to be clear, shedding does not alway need to start from a place of something negative, dark, right? Sometimes it can start from a positive place- a place of good! Maybe you are an entrepreneur. Things are going well, but you’ve become complacent when it’s really time to level up. Your current business model may be like your favorite old pair of sneakers. You know them well-  you’re comfortable with them and you’re comfortable where you are. But have you noticed that the sole of those sneakers is wearing down? And once that happens those sneakers that were once your go to forever will soon become uncomfortable because it’s time to shed them and get you a pair with a thick, fresh sole. Because the sole supports you? Just like new skin is supple and buoyant. It bounces back much easier than skin that is old, loose and dry. Are you holding on to something that you should be shedding so that you can be ushered into your new season in tip top shape? 

So don’t let complacency hold you back from the fresh new version of you that can pick up where you left off with that old pair of sneaks because they could carry you no longer. You’ve still got miles to run! So lace up and get back on that track!

I’d like to leave you with a poem by Butterflies Rising today. I believe it is untitled but it says:

this is a growing season,
of change, of turning, of shedding,
of letting things fall away,
and fall apart, and come undone,
and be uncovered

and then a space of surrender,
and being, just being.

and the reflections here are temporary,
so take them in and honor them,
and be honest with them, and own them…
but then forgive them,
and don't stay in them

let it all go… let yourself bloom.

Wasn’t that beautiful y’all? I thought so.

Anyway, I encourage you, let yourself bloom. Bloom from that which you’ve shed. That which you released to give back to the ground upon which you are standing. And take the fruits of what it fertilized and share it with others so that they won’t be afraid to bloom too. Shedding is a good thing y’all. Renewal is amazing, so don’t keep yourself from it. 

Thanks so much for listening today. If what you heard has been beneficial, don’t forget to share, rate, like and  follow the pod. None of those things cost you anything except a few minutes that I hope you are willing to spare.; I can’t wait to chat with you all next week. Take care until then.