Letting Go: What the Trees Teach Us About Midlife, Menopause, and Change
As I sit in Still Space Hull, watching the autumn light soften through the windows, I’m struck by how gracefully the trees know how to let go.
They don’t resist the season. They don’t try to cling to their leaves for just a little longer.
They simply… release.
There’s something profoundly wise in that, and I think it has a lot to teach us about how we move through change in midlife and menopause.
Nature’s Lesson in Letting Go
When a tree begins to shed its leaves, it doesn’t happen suddenly.
There’s a quiet preparation taking place long before the first leaf falls.
The tree gently draws back its nutrients, pulling energy from each leaf and returning it to its trunk and roots. It’s a deliberate act of self-preservation, a way of storing nourishment to sustain itself through the winter ahead.
And before the leaf finally drops, the tree creates a protective layer at the base of each stem, sealing off the spot so it won’t be left raw or exposed.
That image moved me deeply when I first learned about it.
It reminded me that letting go doesn’t have to mean tearing ourselves apart or forcing change.
It can be a process of preparation, protection, and trust.
"In a world that glorifies productivity and pushing through, slowing down can feel uncomfortable, even wrong"
What This Means for Us in Midlife
As women, we go through our own seasonal cycles.
There are times of blossoming and outward energy, and there are times, like autumn, that call us inward.
In midlife and menopause, our bodies often start whispering what the trees already know: we can’t stay in constant growth mode forever.
But in a world that glorifies productivity and “pushing through,” slowing down can feel uncomfortable, even wrong.
We might feel guilty for resting or worry that we’re losing momentum.
Yet nature tells a different story.
Just as the trees pull back to sustain themselves, we too can reclaim our energy.
We can set boundaries that protect what’s next.
And we can trust that every period of rest is part of a larger rhythm, one that’s leading us somewhere new.
Letting Go with Gentleness
In my own life and in my work as a coach and breathwork facilitator, I’ve seen that the process of letting go becomes gentler when we stop treating it as something to conquer.
Letting go isn’t about forcing change or pretending we’re fine.
It’s about tending to ourselves with compassion.
It’s about creating the space for what’s ready to emerge.
When we pause, breathe, and listen inwardly, we can start to hear what our body and spirit have been trying to tell us all along.
A Reflection Practice for This Season
If you’re feeling that autumnal pull, the invitation to rest, reflect, and release, try this simple exercise inspired by the trees:
Pause and notice what you’ve been holding onto tightly.
Ask yourself:
What am I ready to draw nourishment from?
What might I be ready to release?
Protect your next season.
Think about what boundaries or gentle rituals could help you carry yourself through the darker months.
You don’t need to know the answers straight away.
Just sit with the questions.
Let them breathe with you.
The Wisdom Beneath the Surface
Even when the trees appear bare, life continues beneath the surface, roots intertwining, soil nourishing, buds quietly forming.
The same is true for us.
Rest is not neglect.
Stillness is not stagnation.
It’s where renewal begins.
So as we move deeper into this season, I invite you to follow nature’s lead.
Trust the rhythm of release and renewal.
And remember, you already carry everything you need.
With love and presence,
Carly
Coach | Breathwork Guide | Midlife Mentor
