Everything in life must end.
I often find myself thinking of this phrase throughout this year, as it's been one wild ride of lessons and endings.
As the growing season comes to a close as well, and we pick the last tomatoes off our plants, hoping they ripe on the counter since the cold weather is doing them no favors - I can't help but sigh at the bittersweetness of endings.
On one hand, theres so much more left to do and dreams to make into reality.
On the other hand, we learned a lot and feel better prepared for next year, exhausted and ready for the break of winter.
We cleared out most of our beds, a few plants still slowly producing, but most everything else has come to a quiet close.
In a way, it feels like I can breathe again.
Life can get hectic, and trying to keep up with all of the dreams you started months ago, when your tastes have now changed, is utterly exhausting.
Did I do enough?
Did I waste anything?
Why didn't I ever get to that?
The guilt and the shame can easily creep in.
Relax.
Look at all you reaped.
Look at all you grew.
Look at all you learned.
I try to remind myself that the only constant in life, is change. And all things must end.
And that exactly is how new adventures begin.
Yes, new adventures.
New knowledge.
And new life.
The world is full of spirals. Not cycles, but slightly skewed paths revisiting the same themes over and over, but changing each visit.
You will never revisit the same situation twice. There is always differences.
Rejoice in that fact.
Use it to your advantage.
And enjoy the next step with the knowledge you learned.
I am grateful for change, as bittersweet as it is.
I can only imagine where the next season may take us.
xxx
Picture of our last big harvest of the season, and our nearly empty garden behind.
#garden #gardening #vegetables #tomatoes #carrots #squash #change #seasons #endings #thoughts #learning #lessons #philosophy #beginnings #inspiration #inspiring #uplifting #encouraging #encouragement #hardwork #farming #homestead #homesteading #solarpunk #slowliving #slowlife