My ultimate favorite time of year is the fall—especially here in the Midwest. Each day brings a new palette of color, the air carries that crisp, earthy scent, and yes, it’s finally time to pull out the soup recipes. (Let’s be honest, nothing says self-care quite like a pot of chili or pumpkin soup simmering on the stove while you pretend you’re on The Great British Bake Off.)
Why Leaves Change Color
Last year, Tom Hanks narrated an incredible series, The Americas. In it, he explained the fascinating science behind why trees change color. Ever since, I’ve been struck by how fall is so much more than the backdrop for Halloween and Thanksgiving—it’s a season of transformation.
As he explained it, as daylight shortens and temperatures cool, trees stop producing chlorophyll—the green pigment that powers photosynthesis. As chlorophyll fades, the hidden yellows and oranges of carotenoids are revealed, while the reds and purples of anthocyanins appear as sugars build within the leaves.
Meanwhile, trees reclaim nutrients, conserve their energy, and seal off each leaf before letting it go. It’s the ultimate act of efficiency—like cleaning out your closet, except instead of sweaters you never wear, the trees are letting go of millions of leaves without even one guilty glance back.
What Trees Teach Us About Self-Care
I couldn’t help but look for a lesson in nature’s transitional beauty. In many ways, fall mirrors what we need in our own lives—particularly in Veterinary medicine, where the pace rarely slows. Three key lessons stand out:
- Reclaiming energy: Just as trees pull nutrients back to their roots, we can use this time to center ourselves and protect the things that sustain us. (Think of it as plugging yourself back into the charger before your battery hits red.)
- Letting go: Trees shed without hesitation, trusting the cycle. We too can release what no longer serves us—whether that’s overcommitment, perfectionism, or the idea that we must say yes to every extra shift.
- Embracing rest: Winter dormancy isn’t waste—it’s healing. For us, downtime can be restorative, not indulgent. And yes, “rest” can mean binge-watching a show with your favorite cup of coffee and your dog Hinton on your lap.
But rest also serves a greater purpose: it creates the space for what comes next. Just as trees conserve energy in the colder months so they can burst into bloom in spring, our own periods of rest prepare us for growth. Which is why fall doesn’t just teach us to slow down—it also nudges us toward renewal.
Letting Go of the Weight We Carry
Letting go isn’t just about saying no to an extra task or shift. It’s also about unburdening ourselves from the invisible weight we carry every day. In Veterinary medicine, that weight can look like grief from patients we couldn’t save, the pressure of constant client expectations, or the quiet guilt of wondering if we’ve done enough.
Trees show us another way. When they drop their leaves, they don’t cling, second-guess, or negotiate with the wind—they simply release. Imagine what it would feel like if we gave ourselves that same permission: to set down the heaviness we’ve been holding, to trust the cycle, and to believe that lightness will create space for something new.
Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting or dismissing what we’ve been through—it means acknowledging it, honoring it, and then freeing ourselves to move forward with less weight on our shoulders.
A Season for New Opportunities
That’s why fall is also the perfect time to restart or refine a project or goal. Unlike the first of the new year—when we make resolutions we’ve usually broken before the holiday decorations are even packed away—fall offers a gentler, wiser moment to set goals. Trees remind us that renewal doesn’t wait for a date on the calendar; it happens when the time is right.
Just as trees strengthen their roots and prepare for spring growth, we can use this season to:
- Enroll in continuing education or certifications you’ve been curious about.
- Explore new passions or hobbies—inside or outside of Veterinary medicine.
- Build leadership skills, mentor others, or consider fresh career opportunities.
And if those goals come with a side of pumpkin spice latte? Even better.
For me, every bowl of soup, every breath of crisp air, and every fiery red maple is a reminder that change is beautiful, rest is necessary, and renewal is always possible. Veterinary professionals can take fall as their cue—not only to care for themselves, but also to set meaningful goals that honor both the season and the cycles of their own lives.
After all, if the trees can let go of millions of leaves without stressing, surely we can let go of a few things, too.