Fall has always been my favorite time of year, a season with unparalleled beauty. Ironically, the splendor I see, the variety of shapes and textures combined with a spectrum of warm colors, leads unforgivingly to death. Yes, as my husband bluntly says “the leaves are dying.”
But what causes the leaves to change color and form, or as my husband says, to die? During this process, chlorophyll in the leaves breaks down, which causes the green colors to disappear, and yellow and red to become visible.
Chlorophyll is an important molecule in plants. In fact, natural medicine enthusiasts tout the health benefits, which include: cancer fighting properties; improving liver detoxification, speeding up wound healing, improving digestion and weight control, and protecting skin health. The primary reason chlorophyll is considered a superfood is because of its strong antioxidant and anti-cancer effects. Needless to say, it’s a strong asset to trees, especially their leaves.
So it may seem that trees start to lose the materials they need to survive the fall and winter as their leaves no longer have the green pigment, which causes the to weaken and fall. Despite this, the trees remain in place; only their leaves are shed.
That being said, observing nature has led me to reflect upon the past couple of months, when this new virus named COVID-19 made its way into our lives, drastically changing our daily routines.
Currently, the threat of COVID is still present and flu season in tow. Given this, how can one survive physically, mentally, and emotionally in view of the level of risk increasing? Below are three tips which may be beneficial.
Build a strong foundation.
Strengthen your immune system by eating healthy, getting enough sleep and continuing to practice good hygiene and social distancing.
Nourish your soul.
Take time to take a walk and observe nature. Set aside time to read an uplifting book or listen to an inspiring song. Practice gratitude.
Set priorities for the day.
List your tasks in order of importance. This will help you focus on the more important jobs, and it will reveal which ones you can put off, delegate, or even eliminate all together. Also, remember to schedule some downtime. Short breaks can reinvigorate you and reduce your stress!
Life brings many ups and downs and just like trees, although leaves are shed in the fall, they once again appear in all their glory during the spring. Trees don’t dwell on yesterday or worry about tomorrow; they simply exist in the present. They let go and allow nature take its course. All the while they have firmly planted roots, which allows them to survive the harsh winter season. By focusing on nourishing our roots, we can learn from nature and continue to stand tall despite the changes this year may continue to bring.
