bhaskar saikia

Trees shed leaves in winter not as a loss but as preparation. Each falling leaf represents a choice: release what is no longer needed to conserve energy for future growth. This simple act carries a profound lesson for humans.

We too carry unnecessary weight—old habits, toxic routines, unresolved fears, and limiting beliefs. Winter is a time to shed them. By letting go, we create space for the new to enter. Consider the jacaranda tree. Its branches are bare in December, but come spring, it bursts into rich green leaves and purple flowers, as if nothing was ever lost.

In human terms, shedding can mean taking a break from constant social media consumption, ending a habit that no longer serves you, or forgiving a past mistake that weighs heavily. These acts are not endings—they are preparation.

I remember a friend who spent a winter reflecting on old grudges and relationships that drained him. By spring, he was lighter, more focused, and ready to pursue new opportunities without carrying old burdens. Like trees, we bloom best when we have released what holds us back.

Winter, then, is not about stopping. It is about readying ourselves, quietly and intentionally, for the life that awaits us when the season changes.