4 Lessons from a Winter Tree

It happens every year. I’ve just retruned from a three week trip to visit friends and family for the holidays. The wacky, wonderful flurry of food, fun, and fellowship has ended, and the quiet descends on me like a blanket of winter snow. Post holiday blues? Fatigue? Too much of the wrong kind of food (and beverage) and not enough exercise and sleep? All of the above.

Through the years, I’ve learned the signs, and I know myself well enough not to panic. This year, I am inspired by the trees surrounding our holiday home in Indiana. Here are 4 things I’ve learned from winter trees:

#1 It’s OK to Slow Down

Mother Nature is giving us permission to slow down this time of year. The trees are dormant, there are less hours of daylight. For those of us who have been busy professionals most of our lives, this goes against our nature, but all living things need to rest. It’s not realistic for us to hibernate like bears, but we can take some time to slow down the pace of activities or take a moment or two throughout the day to pause and reflect.

#2 Let Go of Unnecessary Burdens

In order to survive the winter, deciduous trees drop their leaves to conserve energy. This may be a good time to examine our priorities to see if there are “energy drainers” we can drop. Worry? Negative thoughts? Relationships that deplete us? Too many commitments?

#3 Embrace Winter as a time of Preparation

The winter season is vital to the survival of the tree. This dormancy is a time of preparation for the new growth that will appear in the spring. Perhaps this season is vital for us as well. A quiet time to step back, reflect, gather thoughts and prepare for periods of growth. Without this period we may be tempted to push ahead and go, go, go…ultimately causing us to burn out.

#4 Nurture Your Roots

During winter, deciduous trees send most of their vital nutrients to their roots. We can do the same by strengthening ties to family and friends, our spiritual lives, our core values, our passions. These are the things that will secure our foundation and ensure that we continue to grow and thrive.