PHOTOGRAPHY

Autumn is letting go…

The most beautiful time of the year is when the leaves change colors

Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go. ~ Unknown

A month ago — halfway through October 2021 — I started my daily walks.

I needed to.

Partly for my own mental health, to just be out for 30–45 minutes and be alone with my thoughts. To process all that’s happening in our life.

But, there’s another reason, also linked to my mental health.

In August, my right hip and leg hurt so much, I could barely turn over in bed at night. It took me 4 weeks to find a physiotherapist that could help me. It turned out all muscles in my back are cramped due to stress, and the pain radiates from there, to my hip, my thigh, and right to my knee.

By going on my daily walks, I hoped it would help my back to either get stronger, or to relax it enough not to hurt. And, I have to say, it’s working. Not every day is pain free, but I don’t come home limping from the pain anymore.

We live only 600 meters from one of the country’s major rivers. It’s enormously wide, and when I walk along the river towards a small park, I come to a point where three rivers get together. That point is even wider. I walk the same route every day — from home directly to the river, then along the river towards a park, then through the park and then I turn back home. Sometimes I take another twist or turn, bringing my walk to anything between 2.5 and 3 kilometers. It’s not far, but far enough for my current physical state.

And, it’s beautiful!

I love the different views over the river — I will share some of those images in a different post — but since autumn is my favorite season, it’s the color changes of nature now drawing my attention.

I notice the colors on the trees, some of them turning yellow quicker than others. Others are orange, or a beautiful red color. I notice the leaves on the ground, the different shapes from the different trees, and all the beautiful colors — some still green, others yellow, others red, and some a mixture of different colors. Some leaves are already totally dried out.

The trees let their leaves go, in a way we can’t always let things go.

I can’t yet, not in our current circumstances. Things are still too raw, too recent, too painful.

Still, I listen to nature’s lesson, and think of it almost daily as I walk between those colored leaves. One day, I will let it go, to leave this period behind us.

Behind me.

When I’m ready.

For now, more autumn images…

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