I saw this tree, earlier this week and it reminded me of this quote from Rumi… Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop.
Isn’t this message so simple yet so profound. As we grow in life, we gather so many experiences in the form of people, places and everything around us. As much as we may want to but all these are not just the good and positive. There’s the bad and the ugly as well. While we often look at positive things of the past with a smile, but we really hang on to the negativity of the past.
Our failures, our mistakes, our disappointments, and our hurts from the past are shackled around our ankles. They weigh us down, yet we hold on to them tightly. Some of these painful memories are immortalized in our minds.
Last week, I was in the grip of a past hurt, which I believed was truly a thing of the past and would never be a part of my present again. And yet, it was there with all its power to distress and agonize me.
Why can’t we be like this tree and drop all the leaves of resentments, hurts, pains, miseries of the past? I know it’s easier said than done, but we must truly drop these baggages of the past. It’s a conscious choice that we must make.
In one of the meditation session that I was a part of, the guide suggested three strategies to let go of the past.
- Acknowledge that we have some dead leaves to drop.
- Consciously work on removing them from our life.
- Reap the benefits of the progress.
The process of dropping dead leaves is a slow process but a progress nevertheless.
Yes, let’s be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop and bring about a positive change in our life.
Do you have some dead leaves to drop? How would you go about dropping them?
Linking this to Thursday Tree Love, a photo feature hosted by Parul Thakur. If you would like to play along, post a picture of a tree on your blog and link up. Let’s come together to appreciate the beautiful nature around us.
43 Responses
Oh I have a whole lot of dead leaves to drop!!!!
Good one, at a good time too!
We all have to, at various points of life. Good luck to you, Priya! Hugs ♥
shilpa dear, this was a fabulous post, I fell in love with this tree and what a beautiful background. Added to all this is the meaningful reflection of yours, yes I do have some leaves to drop. How do I go about dropping ?
I pray for the persons everyday, and whenever they come to my mind.
Everyday before I retire to bed, I pause for a while review and send vibes of peace, love and harmony.
I practice gratitude for the gift (learning, lessons) they have given me. Thanks for sharing:)
I like the idea of praying for people, it would not only bring about a change in their lives but bring peace and calm in our life too. Thanks for sharing such a lovely thought, Genevive.
And thanks for your kind words too!
I have a lot of dead leaves to drop in my life, too. Why hang on to them any longer? A tree must shed to renew itself in the spring. Yes, it’s a lesson I need to learn.
Yes, we all need to shed old dead leaves and pave the way for new leaves of happiness and experiences.
Love the message, but I keep scrolling up to see that gorgeous photograph. 🙂 Wonderful.
Thank you, Vinay! Glad you liked this post!
Loved your thought. I wish like a tree we could drop resentments too, how simple life would be when started fresh every season. Beautiful capture too.
We need to drop these resentments and hurts for our own sanity and peace but as you mentioned it does not come easily to us. Thanks Raj!
It is a slow, often painful process, dropping dead leaves, but it must be done.
Yes, it must be done regularly for our own well being!
Loved the message Shilpa it’s so profound. We always find it tough to let go especially of pain, anger, rejection, resentment. But as you rightly mentioned it’s the first step in setting ourselves free. I used to bury these negative emotions in my heart for long and they used to hurt badly but I have learnt to let go. Not for others but for myself
True, letting go is easier said than done but believe me, there’s nothing more liberating and freeing than leaving these past hurts and resentments behind and moving on.
Yes, letting go is a gift that we need to give to ourselves. And am glad that you did just that, Akshata!
If we focus on the new green leaves that spring brings along, the dead leaves will drop by themselves…rt ?
Interesting thought… I think once the dead leaves fall, only then new leaves can grow in their place. I may be wrong…
I’m not sure if I like the picture better or the post!
I really love Rumi quotes!
How deep- let’s drop the dead leaves!
( I have a bunch I’m sure)
Thanks a lot, Zainab. Glad you liked this post!
We all are in the same boat… but let’s take our boat ahead by dropping the baggages behind.
extremely eerie timing. I’m going through much the same but really struggling to let the dead leaves drop even though it would probably be the advice I would give others … hypocrite, thy name is me :/
A big hug to you, Roshan. Hope you do work on dropping dead leaves!
Good one. Awesome quote.
Thank you, SG!
Such a gorgeous shot, Shilpa. The quote and the reflection are apt for the click. There is so much to learn from the Nature. We all have those dead leaves weighing us down. It’s time I learn to lose mine. I’m not sure though, the how to part.
They say when the reasons are strong enough, you will find a way to overcome the obstacles. So you will find a way too!!
Thanks a lot, Vinitha. Glad that you enjoyed reading this post!
Don’t we all have leaves to drop? And it seems they never stop. Drop a hurt, forgive a slight and start collecting new ones yet again….
Yes, it’s a never ending process… such are the ways of life!
That’s a beautiful analogy and I loved how you related it. I have personally been benefitted by dropping leaves – initially I used to forget and then I started forgiving. It’s easy and comes with practice and time.
Great shot and a message to remember and act upon. So glad you joined, Shilpa.
So happy to note that you have found peace and happiness in dropping dead leaves. Thanks Parul, glad you liked this post!
Realize it for the first time that a tree could come with valuable lessons for life! Yes let the dead leaves fall- i would call it the negativity of life- whatever it be.
I have generally been feeling a bit low these days. Thanks to this post, i should smile a bit more, isnt it!
A big hug to you, Ramya. Hope you are feeling better and smiling more often too. Yes, go ahead and drop the negative emotions of pain, hurt, anger, regrets and resentments and welcome the peace and calm!
Of course I have many dead leaves to drop…thanks for making me conscious
You are not alone, Monika. We all have a lot of dead leaves to drop. Yes, being aware of the same is the first step.
Don’t we all have dead leaves to drop. I have them too and I find it very very hard to let them go.
Oh, we all have a lot of them. And dropping the dead leaves does not come easily to us, but we must let go for our own peace and sanity!
This picture is so hauntingly beautiful!
We all should shed the dead leaves and make room for new. How else will we grow?
I like that… yes, we need to make room for the new.
Thanks Soumya, glad you liked this picture!
Profound! There is so much to learn from nature.. As you said, these things take time but if we persevere then its possible to ‘drop dead leaves’…
Yes, nature is the biggest teacher, if only we learn from it…
Thanks Archana!
Wow! Love the beautiful analogy of dead leaves and past hurt/pain/resentments! How aptly you’ve expressed your thoughts…I struggled for many years to let go and only now am beginning to see some positive changes in myself…tough things can sometimes bring us very positive outcomes! Food for thought indeed.
Thank you, Esha. Glad this post resonates with you!
Such a beautiful pic and nice quote. Great shot.
Thanks a lot, Ramya!
Great reminder. I was with someone two days ago who was holding on to anger from events that were long gone. I asked her, why do you still carry that? What good is it doing you? Afterwards I had to ask myself what I might be carrying. Thanks!