Colder Months and Signs of Hope

Hi everyone! 

It's been a while since I've written a blog. The Fall and Winter months have been quite challenging, and I haven’t really had the capacity to write anything. I only want to write blogs when I feel truly motivated or moved to, so the writing is authentic and not forced. Thankfully, that pull to write and share has come back a little bit recently.

Autumn of 2025 was beautiful. Even though I had a lot going on and was dealing with stressful things, I still made time to take pictures of the changing leaves and Fall colours. It’s something I look forward to every year, and I knew I had to make time or I would regret it. Nature doesn’t wait for us, it moves as it is meant to. I really respect and love that about Nature, it pushes me to live in the moment and be present, since the beauty of Fall passes so quickly. I know it's February, but I figured I could share these photos anyway, since the colours were so beautiful. 

This Winter tested me in some ways. I have found myself struggling to let go when it comes to certain things in life. Winter forced me to face this in a very real and upfront way. A lot of things were happening that were completely beyond my control, and I always struggle with that. But, as I am learning and accepting, there are many things I cannot fix or control. 

It's been a season of learning how to let go, and more importantly, learning how to trust the Universe and others in my life. Having a support system is so important when things are hard, but I have a difficult time receiving help from others. This has really taught me that it's okay to ask for help, it's okay to lean on your loved ones. On New Year's Eve, my husband and I were taking a walk after a tiring week, and the sunset that evening was so incredibly stunning, I had to take some photos. It felt like a warm hug from nature. It was a beautiful way to end the year, and it made me reflect on 2025 and what I am so so grateful for; my husband, my family and friends, living somewhere so beautiful, time spent in nature, and much more.

This month, the slow shift to longer days has felt really encouraging, making me excited for Spring. In Judaism, we have a holiday called Tu BiShvat (pronounced “Too Bee-shvat”) which usually falls in late January or early February. This holiday is known as the “new year of the trees”. On this day, we eat fruits and celebrate the trees slowly waking from their winter slumber as the sap in them starts to rise. It's a really beautiful, happy holiday, filled with hopeful messages and energy. A couple of weeks ago, two days after the holiday, I went for a walk in the forest near my home. There were little, early signs of Spring as I walked. I paused in front of one of the trees to soak up the moment, and I actually saw sap on the truck of the tree. The timing was so perfect, and I was so moved that it actually made me emotional. When was the last time I saw sap on the trees? When did I last stop and take a moment to enjoy it? It was so heartwarming to see, it felt like a promise of good things to come. It was a moment that really filled me with hope. 

Lately I’ve been struggling with reading the news and hearing about all the awful things happening in the world, and I’m sure some of you can relate. It feels like it's so hard to look away from everything that is happening, and it ends up sucking the life out of me, which is definitely not good or healthy. Even though it's hard, when I push myself to spend time in nature, I’m always left feeling refreshed and comforted. It's crazy how often I need to be reminded of that, but it's so important. While it feels like so much is going wrong, the sun still rises and sets, and nature moves in its cycles. It reminds me where power actually lies; in Nature, the Universe, and its strength and pacing, who waits for no one and moves at the speed it needs. This is why I'm always trying to remind myself why connection to nature is important. To be mindfully present and see what it is showing us. Maybe it will even give us a little sign that everything will be okay. It is okay to step away from the chaos and fear, even just for a little while, to recenter and recharge when we feel drained.

Winter isn’t over, the buds won't bloom for a few weeks still, but everything is slowly but surely waking up. I hope that you are all doing well, and I’m sending good energy your way. I’m wishing that all of you can connect to things that help you feel grounded and hopeful. Maybe you’ll even find a little sign of good things to come (:

-Sarah