Calm Corner: letting go like the leaves

by Victoria Stacy, Kids Section Co-Editor

Have you ever watched a tree in the fall? Slowly, its green leaves turn into shades of red, orange, and yellow. Then, one by one, the leaves let go and float gently to the ground. The tree doesn’t try to hold on to its leaves forever—it knows it’s time to release them.

We can learn something important from the trees. Just like leaves, we all carry thoughts and feelings. Some are bright and happy, like laughter with a friend. Others might feel heavy, like worries about a test, frustration when things don’t go our way, or sadness when we miss someone. Holding on too tightly to these heavy feelings can weigh us down, just like a tree would feel weighed down if it kept all its old leaves.

Mindfulness teaches us that it’s okay to notice our feelings and then decide which ones to let go of. Letting go doesn’t mean the feelings never happened—it just means we don’t have to carry them forever.

A Mindful Fall Activity:

• Find a real leaf (or imagine one in your mind).

• Think of a worry, frustration, or thought you want to let go of.

• Imagine placing that worry on the leaf.

• Picture the leaf gently falling from the tree, swirling in the air, and landing softly on the ground.

• Take a deep breath in…and out. Feel how light you are without carrying that worry.

Like the tree, you are strong and can grow new leaves when the time is right. For now, it’s enough to let go and make space for fresh, brighter feelings.