How Fall Teaches Us About Loss

By Lisa Payne

Hello September! Fall is just about here with its crisp air and golden light. This is nature’s way of giving us one of its most profound teachings about life, death, and remembrance. The season's transformation—from the vibrant greens of summer to the brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows of fall—mirrors our own journey of honoring those who have passed while celebrating the endless beauty of their impact on our lives.

I recently lost one of my best college girlfriends. She battled colon cancer at way too young of an age. Losing her, in combination with the onset of fall, puts me in deep reflection and can spiral me downward or lift me up depending on the day and how I choose to hold the moment.

Nature is our teacher. There is something quite moving about watching leaves release their hold on the branch. They don't cling desperately to the tree. Instead, they surrender gracefully, floating on the wind as they make their final descent. This natural process of letting go offers comfort to those grieving the loss of loved ones. Just as trees release their leaves to survive the winter and prepare for new blossoms, we too must learn to release our grip on what was…while holding close the beauty of what remains.

The falling leaves don't represent an ending, but a transformation. They return to the earth, enriching the soil that will nourish new life in spring. Similarly, our departed loved ones continue to enrich our lives in ways both seen and unseen. Their wisdom, stories, laughter, and love become part of the very foundation upon which we build our existence.

Autumn teaches us that there is beauty in every stage of life. The bare branches that we will soon witness are not symbols of emptiness but of endurance and quiet strength. In our grief, we may feel stripped bare, exposed to the elements of sorrow and loss. But we know the trees will bloom again year after year, regardless of how much they had to endure through the winter.

The cycle of seasons reminds us that endings are also beginnings. While we cannot reverse the passage of time or bring back those we've lost, we can honor their memory by embracing the lessons they taught us and carrying their light forward. Each autumn becomes an opportunity to reflect on their lasting influence—the way their kindness shaped our compassion, their wisdom guided our decisions, or their courage inspired us to step outside of our comfort zone.

Perhaps the most beautiful aspect of autumn's symbolism is how it demonstrates that legacy is not about permanence but about transformation. The beautiful display of fall colors is actually a tree's gift before winter—a burst of beauty that comes from letting go. Our loved ones offer us similar gifts through their memory: moments of unexpected joy when we recall their humor, boosts of strength when we remember their resilience, and waves of love when we feel their presence in our daily lives.

As we walk through autumn landscapes, we can see our departed loved ones in every golden sunset that reminds us of their warmth, every gentle breeze that carries whispers of their voice, and every bare tree that stands as a testament to enduring love. They are not gone; they have simply changed form, becoming part of the eternal cycle that connects all living things.

This autumn, as we watch nature do its thing, we can find peace in knowing that love transcends seasons, and memory creates its own form of everlasting spring within our hearts.

Lisa Payne writes about food, home, and family. You can reach her at paynefam6@gmail.com.