1 : falling off or shed seasonally or at a certain stage of development in the life cycle <deciduous leaves><deciduous scales>

2 : having deciduous parts <maples, birches, and other deciduous trees> b : having the dominant plants deciduous <a deciduous forest>

Deciduous

Deciduous was my Word of the Year a few years ago. I like the word deciduous. It makes me think about letting go of thoughts, feelings, habits, and pounds. I think about the natural rhythm of life. I think about seasons, birth and death, starts and stops.

My Favorite Tree

I always have a favorite tree wherever I live. Each favorite tree stands on its trunk, firmly rooted in the earth, extending its branches. Leaves come and go depending on the type of tree. My favorite trees remind me to consider my core strengths, needs and desires. What to keep. What to shed. What sustains. What inspires. What fuels. Living a life that is more about creation, hope, faith, and courage than about fear, anger, weight, and cynicism seems an important lesson I learn from my favorite trees.

Seasons to Life 

There are seasons to life. Zora Neale Hurston says there are years that ask questions and years that answer. There is a rhythm to the questions and answers of years. I think seasons are like that, too. There is a rhythm to questions and answers of seasons. Seasons are about growth and change. Like trees, our deciduous selves understand falling apart and back together, roots remain even as leaves fall. 

The Meaning of Deciduous

Deciduous means the honesty required to embrace our true selves. Deciduous means the wholehearted celebration of growth. Deciduous means looking at falling leaves and bare limbs as a beginning – a heart-open, center-exposed, courageous place – where we are not bound by mistakes, wounds, or failure. Deciduous means beauty in the unexpected, raw, and revealed. Deciduous means fierce strength in light and shadows.