Today is the first day of school for most of the children of New York City. There is something so palpably magical and hopeful about this fresh start—albeit mixed in with a dose of trepidation.

This week we arrive at the Winter Solstice, the day when our Northern Hemisphere tilts as far away as possible from the sun. Also called Midwinter, this is the shortest day and the longest night of the year for those of us in the north.

Here in the northeast, the leaves have begun to change color and fall gracefully toward Mother Earth. While this beautiful and age-old phenomenon appears, on the surface, to be a passive detachment, it actually involves intentional actions from the tree, including the release of certain hormones causing each leaf to separate from its branch.

When times feel heavy

Remember that you are not Atlas

Made to hold the heavens upon your shoulders.

We are nature. And the autumn season reminds us that we, too, need to periodically shed things that we’ve outgrown. Be it a job, a living space, a habit, or a relationship…

The people closest to me know that I’m a voracious learner—constantly reading, listening, observing, and studying—both formally and informally. Inspired by my rich cultural heritage, for the last 25 years or so I’ve been drawn to learning about diverse spiritual traditions of Africa, the Americas, and Asia.

Autumn is a prime time to allow the things that you’ve outgrown to gently fall away.

I’ve always loved inflection points. Those moments when we can shift into something new—perhaps quietly transforming into an elevated state that’s been waiting to emerge.

Happy Winter Solstice! The longest evening of the year is a wonderful time to reflect on all the growth you’ve undergone throughout this circle around the sun.