Tag: letting go

Does the Fall Season Change You?

by Journeys of My Heart, posted in Life Foundations

Do you feel the shift in your heart as you move into Fall, or do you slide into Fall as if it is just the next season you have to face? Which one would you say best fits how you feel as you look ahead to Fall 2026? Are you walking with expectation across the life bridge into Fall, or are holding back because of reasons you may not be able to articulate within yourself?

Let me take a moment to share with you my thoughts about this year’s Fall Season for me and see if it resonates with you. Fall is finally here and I look forward to cozy days, moments of sparkly lights and candles burning. I pick a cup from the cupboard of my cup collection at the coffee bar. I enjoy the process of making my coffee/mocha each morning. I breathe in the smell of the coffee brewing each day. I feel that feeling of coziness as I wait for that first sip, and I anticipate sitting in my favorite spot to enjoy it. Fall means slowing down to enjoy a favorite quilt or afghan to cuddle up in. In other words, cultivating an atmosphere of cozy spaces and tastes. It is the sweet response to “live-in”. We don’t always have to be so busy that we don’t have time to savor the sweetness of rest and relaxing. I have learned that the most unremarkable can be become a most never to be forgotten moment. I even have times where I call a friend and we have coffee together by phone as we share about life with each other. Sometimes I stay in pajamas all day…yes I know. Some of you may think that is being lazy. But for me, it allows me to take a day off of everything I would normally do and take the above options intentionally. I love to bake scones and enjoy the fragrance through the home as I sip the coffee waiting for them to cool. It is delightful. Maybe you aren’t in a position to explore all of these each day if you are working outside the home. But getting up early enough to enjoy one or the other can change your whole day. We should learn to savor our own time clock and not be governed by the world and its chaos.

We read and hear about Fall being a time of letting go just as the leaves let go and fall to the ground. It is a great analogy of letting go of things or thoughts or commitments in order to have those times of peace. Maybe it might be just laying in bed for a few minutes longer, or sitting in your favorite chair and reading the Bible or devotional. Here is the kicker…not feeling guilty about it. Maybe it is a phone call or sending a text to a friend that is going through a hard time. Better yet, a time of prayer to thank God for all you have and the blessings He has given you; some of which you haven’t yet acknowledged to Him that He provided for you. Reading your Bible is important. How can we grow faith with God if we never spend time learning what He tells us about life? He speaks through his word but we will miss it if we seldom open His Guide Book.

It might be in this Fall Season that you decide to make a gratitude jar or as a list of what He provides daily for you. All this to say, we all need to cultivate a coziness habit. It feels right. It IS right. Learning the attitude of Solitude where you spend time with yourself, breath deep, slow down, and you just may find God gives you directions for next steps, or guides you to the changes you may not have know you need to make. I had to make space to write this today because God had put it on my heart to be consistent with my writing and I had not been doing that. People were even asking me to keep writing and I had some of the same excuses you may have been thinking as you read this. He convicted my heart, and here I am sharing this with all of you. If God calls you to it, He will get you through it. He will make a way, IF we are willing to slow our mind and hearts to listen to His direction.

Oh I can hear the sighs…you don’t have the time, I have kids, I am so involved in church activities, or I find it hard to concentrate on one thing because my mind goes in too many directions. Do you realize that is just what satan wants? Yep…keep you distracted; even with good things. I read recently where someone wrote that they loved their life, but could really use a time out. Take care of your health. It will help you look at the changes as a blessing. You are still HERE on this earth. You are here for a reason. Let’s think of going in to Fall as preparation for the rest of year and change up what needs to fall off, and get serious about it. No is a complete sentence. When I look at my house, it isn’t always perfect, but I love what I have created. I enjoy spending time here. I love this quote: “Collect the things you love, that are authentic to you, and your house becomes your story.” Erin Flett

That so resonates with me and I hope it encourages you to feel the same about your ability to enjoy what is around you in the time and space you are in. Find the ways. I think you will find you are more relaxed and can let some things fall off for the change that can come.

What leaves may need to fall with the wind in your life this Fall?

Until next time…

What is there to savor?

by Journeys of My Heart, posted in Life Foundations
Music is one of my number two goals after study. Music does wonders for me!

As my year came to an end, I felt a little lost to be honest. As I know you may be feeling some of the same, I kept telling myself there is hope in a New Year. We hope life will be better in some way. Some are hoping for things to relax and go back to a bit more of normalcy. Some feel that any normalcy will never happen again in our lives. At the end of this year, I could clearly understand the idea that it will never be normal again as we might perceive it. How does it happen that friends leave friendship, family members will choose their own thinking as right instead of seeing that not everyone is going to think or perceive it the same way? It’s sad to lose that which we, in our personal life, think is so important. I’m sure you may have had some similar situations in your own life that you have had to deal with, and like me maybe struggle a bit as this New Year approaches with so many unknowns. With various views and expectations, instead of letting it go, we make it our focus. It is not good.

So with my word of the year before my eyes, and with how I have felt, I asked myself if I was willing to ask for God’s help in REALLY letting that all go, and then next, to do as I often do and ask myself what I can savor in my life? It is much like my gratitude jar. So let me share a little how I am attempting to redirect myself this year, with this word, and how I am dealing with my own “feelings”. It can be tricky as you all know.

First of all, I can not go by my feelings. Do I have enough faith and belief that God cares about all of the experiences that are happening in my life? So… I have had to breathe deep through the hurts and division to ask God to take over. You see, my first knee jerk reaction is to say, “Well ok, if that is the way this will go, and I have tried to work it out, and I have prayed about it, and I have to now leave in with God. Then, I will perceive it as having done my best to understand, and press on. But, what we need to realize is that when we do this, and maybe it is exactly what we need to do, we also carry the responsibility to let God handle it when the devil brings it up again and again. And he will. How will the devil get to us? Our feelings such as guilt, hurts, misunderstandings. Memories. Relationships.

What do I talk to the Lord about this new year? That I will grow in my walk with the Lord and be quick to turn it all over to him. The unknown of what might happen, or decisions I have to make, or even being consistent in my goals and direction I believe God has given me. All of that, has to go before the throne and to ask God to take care of it. And…here is a big one… I need to trust Him with the outcome.

We can be weary in well doing and God tells us not to do that. But sometimes, I have let that happen. I can easily feel like I am walking an uphill battle up the mountain side, with a backpack that is completely full of burdens that I don’t need to carry. I unpack some and leave behind, but somehow the things that are left feel more heavy than before because they end up filling up the space if I don’t leave them at God’s feet. We all need accountability for the actions we take and the way we handle them. It has always been my way to talk them out, and pray for understanding for myself and the circumstances. Have compassion and be willing to accept anything I have done to create the circumstance. It doesn’t always work because those involved have to be willing to come to the table of understanding and/or acceptance. So what is there to savor this year?

I believe in and treasure my freedom. I have the right to choose what I do. Freely. It may not be what others do, but I have the freedom to make that choice, even if it isn’t what someone else might think is right. Not sure when or where it happened that we think we have to force our decisions on others. It certainly isn’t God’s way. Closing our mouth at times is a better practice. At times, silence can speak for us.

I will savor….

My opportunity to freely, by choice, be a life-long learner.

Every moment is precious in my life and live it to the best of my ability.

Where ever I live. That is my sanctuary that God has given me…where ever that turns out to be.

The opportunity to change, because again, God may be teaching something through those changes; even the hard ones.

Learning to listen more than talking.

Quiet time and my mocha time…a priority I don’t want to miss.

Enjoy the food as I eat, rather than, just eating and then getting right up to clean up.

It has been a joy for me once again to write out my goals for this year. Even though I have had some hard times in these last few weeks, I know that I will make it through this too, with God’s help. I do know from experience what I need to ask… for His help for me to see beyond it. It may take a while for me, I have to walk it out. However, I will keep pressing on to be a better listener. You see, He can see beyond today all the way to the end results. I can not. Hence, turning it over in surrender to Him is the only way I can let go. All the hurts, or losses, or sadness, or misunderstanding that I might experience, are not necessarily mine to carry. As I turn it over, He will show me what to do.

As I close this post, I am emptying my backpack and giving it a heave over the side of the mountain. I seek freedom. I hope the above words will sink deep into your heart and soul to help you remember where your help comes from. If there are changes that need to be made, you and I, need to be willing to MAKE the changes in ourselves before we can expect change in our lives.

Am I willing? Yes. Is my path perfect? Nope. But I am headed toward change. My heart is willing and directed. Is YOURS?

Until next time…

~JoAnn