November | autumn sheddings
A “Culling-Through” Season
As the air turns crisp and the leaves begin their annual transformation, autumn reminds us that shedding what no longer serves us is essential for growth. In Louisiana, this doesn’t happen as idyllic as I’d wish. We have about two weeks of spring and fall interrupted by humid summers and wet winters. Nonetheless, I embrace what we’re given. This season offers a unique opportunity to evaluate what in our lives (and our homes) needs to fall away in order to make space for what is working, allowing it to thrive.
This is something a friend and I were recently talking about as artists, mothers, and homebodies. Contrary to the idea that autumn and winter are merely dormant seasons, they are actually a period of intentional culling. Trees, for instance, don’t drop their leaves to rest—they do it to conserve energy for what’s vital beneath the surface. The external shedding makes way for the tree's core systems to gather strength, preparing for spring's resurgence.
In our personal lives, autumn can be a time to reflect on habits, relationships, or projects that have outlived their purpose. By releasing them, we allow ourselves to focus our energy on what truly nourishes us.
WAYS THIS MAY APPLY TO BOTH YOU OR THE SPACE THAT SURROUNDS YOU:
Energy Check: Notice where your energy naturally flows and where your energy seems to drain you. Are you over committing yourself to too many holiday activities? Do we need to fuel more of what does energize you? Take note of what is and isn’t working.
Decluttering: In September, I wrote about 10 things you can declutter today. This is a great way to clear and shed the physical things taking up space in your home (and surprisingly, your mind as well). Are there dump zones in your house that are always messy? That means something isn’t functioning at its best. Let’s address them.
Mental Clarity: Do certain tasks, people, or habits leave you feeling confused, overwhelmed, or mentally cluttered? If so, it may be time to reevaluate what and who have access to you.
Physical Clarity: As the season of gifting approaches. Are we being intentional about what we gift and what we allow to enter our own homes?
Assessing what works (or doesn’t work) can be as simple as “do I need to make a place on the counter for the toaster to live so I don’t have to drag it out each morning?” OR something is large as “am I happy in my job position?”
So this autumn, embrace the beauty of shedding. It isn’t just about letting go—it's about creating space for your most authentic self to flourish. And in that quiet winter ahead? Know that growth is still happening, deep within, setting the stage for a vibrant new season.
xx,
Hope
by Hope Johnson | inspired by nostalgia and comfort
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