WHEN THE LEAVES FALL, THE ROOTS REMAIN

Even when the leaves may fall, the roots still remain.

There are seasons in life where everything familiar seems to fall away. The things that once gave shape to our days. The roles we played. The identities we held. The sense of certainty we leaned on without even realising it. And suddenly, we find ourselves standing in a place that feels bare. This is often where people tell us to be strong. To push through. To stay positive. But nature tells a different story. THE TREE AFTER THE STORM When a powerful storm moves through a forest, it does not ask permission. Winds tear through branches. Leaves are stripped away. What once looked full and thriving can be left exposed and raw. And yet - the tree remains. Not because it resisted the storm. Not because it fought harder than the others. But because of what lies beneath the surface. The roots. Hidden from view, deeply anchored, quietly holding everything in place. When the storm passes and the leaves are gone, what we see is not weakness - we see what has always been there.

WHAT THE STORM REVEALS

There are moments in our lives that feel like storms. Loss. Heartbreak. Burnout. Trauma. Transitions we didn't choose. In those moments, it can feel as though everything we built has been taken from us - and that we are somehow failing because we are no longer "coping" in the way we once did. But perhaps those moments are not showing us our fragility. Perhaps they are revealing our roots. The values that still hold us. The inner knowing that keeps us standing. The quiet resilience that doesn't announce itself. You may not feel strong when the leaves are gone. But strength does not always look like blooming. Sometimes it looks like staying. ROOTED, EVEN WHEN BARE Trees do not bloom all year. They rest. They shed. They grow inward before they grow outward again. And they are no less alive in their bare seasons than they are in their full ones. If you are in a season where you feel stripped back - where you are tired, uncertain, or simply trying to get through the day - it does not mean you are broken. It may mean that life is asking you to return to your roots. To what grounds you. To what steadies you. To what remains true even when everything else falls away. YOU ARE MORE ROOTED THAN YOU REALISE There is quiet strength in continuing, even gently. In choosing to stay present. In allowing yourself to move at your own pace. You do not need to be flourishing to be worthy. You do not need to be productive to be strong. You do not need to be "over it" to be resilient. Like the tree, you are held by roots that have been growing far longer than this season. And when the time is right - not rushed, not forced - new leaves will come. This is the quiet truth we often forget: the roots remain, even when the leaves fall. Take what resonates. Leave what doesn't. Your journey is your own.

Disclaimer This reflection is shared for grounding and emotional support only and is not intended as medical or therapeutic advice. If you are struggling or need additional support, please reach out to a qualified professional or trusted support service.