By Kellie JEnsen
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
What comes to mind when you think of fall? Maybe it's the crisp autumn air, with gentle gusts of wind tussling your hair and tickling your nose. Or perhaps it's the scents of pumpkin spice and apple cinnamon floating around in homes and shops. You might consider pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and laughter as kids run around in costumes collecting candy. There may be memories of cinnamon rolls, pie, and Thanksgiving around a table with friends and family.
But perhaps the hallmark of fall is the cause of the name itself: the gentle fall of leaves, slowly floating from their perch in the trees only to touch down on the cold ground. The colors of the leaves are so vibrant it's hard to believe the reds and yellows weren't just hand-painted onto each individual leaf. And when enough of the leaves fall, it almost feels as if Mother Nature herself has had a new carpet installed!
With fall comes not just a new spectrum of sensations but also perhaps a tumble of mixed emotions: excitement for a new season, a longing for the summer to have stayed just a tad longer, or grief for the things not accomplished. It could be a sense of dread that, with the turn of the season, the cold of winter is likewise just around the corner. Fall, while a beautiful season, is a season of change.
The Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, "The only constant in life is change." Looking back on our lives many of us may relate to this. Whether it's switching jobs or moving states, having children and watching children move out, getting married or getting divorced, the loss of a loved one, or any other life-altering event, change is an inevitable part of life. However, some changes come so quickly we may find ourselves like a tree; a gust of wind has just come through and knocked our leaves off! We may find ourselves thinking, "I wasn't ready to let go of that yet!" and grieve as we desperately attempt to glue the leaf back onto our branches, only to watch sadly as it flutters back to the ground.
Change is hard. And yet, as Marilyn Monroe once said, "Sometimes good things fall apart so better things could fall together" (Girolimon, M., 2024). Every year trees are forced to fall apart, and yet somehow they always seem to come back the next year even more beautiful than the year before. Similar patterns can be found in our lives, and so, here are 3 lessons about change learned from a tree:
1. Trees Grow Better Together
Going on a fall drive through the Wasatch Mountains, it's hard to believe how big the network of Aspen trees is. It seems to just go on and on! The fall time is an especially beautiful time to view these trees as they begin to turn colors like bright yellow and gold. However, one of the most amazing things about this network of aspen trees is that they are all connected. Trees thrive when they grow by other trees. Roots will stretch out and connect with neighboring trees, allowing them to shade each other, share nutrients, and grow stronger than they otherwise would have (Coder, K., 1997). Similarly, connection is a key component in helping to work through a big life change. Just like in the early years of humankind, we rely on others for our survival. A social network is an essential part of growing and weathering the storms that we will face. Social connection can help to mitigate and relieve symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression (Ozbay et al., 2007). These are common challenges faced by many of us as we grieve for the love of a lost one or move to a new stage of life such as entering college. Connecting with others can help us realize we are not alone and this brings a renewed sense of peace and comfort in moving forward in our new life.
2. Continuity Over Time
Following a major life change, it can be overwhelming to think of all the ways life will suddenly be different. However, at our roots, we are fundamentally the same person we have always been. I grew up in Portland, Oregon where I was surrounded by both older and younger trees. It was sad to watch big storms come through, knocking off leaves and sometimes whole branches. However, I noticed how throughout this process they gained more personality, while still maintaining their same unique patterns.
Researcher John Bauer conducted a study in which he interviewed those who had lost a spouse in mid-life. These individuals reported that following the death of their loved one, a major component in helping them adapt to their new circumstance was a focus on what had not changed. Although these individuals still experienced fluctuations in the beginning, in interviewing them at 6, 14, and 25 months post-loss, he found they were able to develop more positive narratives, enabling them to continue despite their challenges (1999). Furthermore, in a study of those living with chronic heart failure, preserving a sense of continuity was found to give patients a sense of security and predictability in their situation. These patients also were able to better create solutions and organize their lives in a way that allowed them to adapt to their unique challenges (Ostman et al., 2015). In recognizing and maintaining relationships, and routines, and nourishing personal growth each of us can find joy in both seasons of change, and in seasons of consistency.
3. Seeking New Opportunities
Below is a picture of the Tillamook State Forest, a beautiful and well-loved stretch of trees not far from where I grew up. In 1933 a devastating forest fire broke out in the Tillamook forest, burning around 240,000 acres and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake (Decker, 2024). Almost 75 years later, I had the opportunity as a young girl to go on field trips where we helped plant new seeds. I remember seeing remnants of burned houses and trees that served as a reminder of the destruction. However, I also remember being taught that forest fires are an important part of helping create even stronger forests, opening up more room for sunlight, and creating new homes for animals later on.
During times of change, we too can find that suddenly a branch knocked down has created an opportunity to let more sunlight in. Research has shown that trying new things can help fill us with a sense of purpose, boost our self-confidence, and also increase our self-esteem (NHS, 2022). These feelings of purpose in life are important in helping to safeguard against diseases like depression and anxiety, a common consequence of unprecedented life changes. In working with mice, researchers at the Zuckerman Institute found that by trying new experiences, our brains are primed to adapt better to changing circumstances (Columbia University, 2024).
Whether it is picking up a new hobby, forming a new habit, or shifting the way we view life, sometimes forest fires are exactly what we need! While painful in the moment, they have the power to ignite helpful, lasting, and even exciting changes within us.
“The season of change is not something to fear, but to embrace”
References
Bauer, J. J. (1999). Constructing narrative identity while adapting to major life change (Order
No. 9925889). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (304497898). https://byu.idm.oclc.org/login/?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/constructing-narrative-identity-while-adapting/docview/304497898/se-2
Columbia University. (2024). Why should you try something new every day?. Columbia Giving. https://giving.columbia.edu/why-should-you-try-something-new-every-day
Decker, D. (2024, May 2). Tillamook burn. The Oregon Encyclopedia. https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/tillamook_burn/
Gillette, H. (2022, December 9). The only constant is change: What to make of this. Psych
Central. https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-only-constant-is-change
Coder, K. D. (1997, September 15). Don’t make landscape trees go it alone. Don’t Make Landscape Trees Go It Alone. https://newswire.caes.uga.edu/story/325/plant-trees-in-groups.html
Girolimon, M. (2024, January 19). 50 best personal growth quotes for Everyday Evolution. Southern New Hampshire University. https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/education/personal-growth-quotes
NHS. (2022, December 16). 5 steps to mental wellbeing. https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/five-steps-to-mental-wellbeing/
Östman, M., Jakobsson Ung, E., & Falk, K. (2015). Continuity means "preserving a consistent
whole"--A grounded theory study. International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being, 10, 29872. https://doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v10.29872
Ozbay, F., Johnson, D. C., Dimoulas, E., Morgan, C. A., Charney, D., & Southwick, S. (2007).
Social support and resilience to stress: from neurobiology to clinical practice. Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa. : Township)), 4(5), 35–40.