From Youth To Wisdom - September 30

Are you moving through a season of transition? In today’s 5 Minutes In Nature, Liz reflects on how fallen leaves break down into rich soil, creating the foundation for new growth. She sees in this cycle a mirror of the journey many women take—leaving youth behind and stepping into a place of deeper wisdom. Is this the stage you find yourself in now?

Transcript

Hello and welcome to Five Minutes in Nature with me Liz Scott.

Wandering down a country lane,

Just seeing little pools of sunlight shining through the trees and catching the hedgerows and the side of the lane.

The leaves are starting to turn on the trees and they're starting to fall down as the wind catches them.

It's still quite early in the season and we've not had any cold weather quite yet and as soon as the cold weather comes I think the leaves will start to tumble on down from the trees but there are some by the side of the lane and they create this wonderful mulchy muddy earth and I know that in the spring all the leaves will have become like a mud and new growth will come out of it.

Today is a bit of a reflection really but as I'm watching the the leaves come down and fall on the side of the lane and seeing that they create this wonderful mushy compost that becomes a rich nourishing place for other plants to grow in the springtime.

I guess I'm curious about what in your life is something that feels as though it's maybe coming together,

There's a bit of confusion maybe,

There's something that isn't quite clear yet a bit like the mushiness of the leaves on the side of the lane that there is something that is still in a process still in the process of becoming like a compost but from that you know something is new is going to come from it and I'll give you a little example in my life because I've been through an experience very much over the last few years of really feeling that a lot of things have shifted and changed in my life.

It feels as though things have been all jumbled up and muddled up and a bit like the leaves at the side of the lane have fallen down and I'm awaiting for something new to emerge and I really do feel now that something fresh and new is taking root and is emerging and for me it's very much around older women.

Older women that go through this process that I'm seeing right in front of my eyes as they go through the menopause where their whole bodies are shaken up,

Their physical systems are shaken up with rapid changes in hormones and the way that they experience the world and life.

It can be very unsettling for many women and for me that feels a bit like what I'm seeing is the leaves fall to the side of the road is that it's not the end of something as in it's the end and the final of something it's the it's the transition and shift from one thing to another.

So as one phase of life becomes the compost for the next phase of life I'm really interested in engaging with women who are looking to take root in the later parts of their life because they've they've transitioned from one phase of womanhood to another phase of womanhood and like these leaves at the side of the road many women just see themselves as a bit often washed up and not able to engage with life as they once did but my sense is that a bit like the leaves at the side of the road there they're just in a space an in-between space a liminal space a transitional space where something fresh and new is taking form and being processed and it will take shoot soon and I'm just really curious if that feels like that resonates for you in your life at the moment maybe you are an older woman maybe you're just in a place of change and transition where things are a little bit jumbled up at the moment but you really do get a sense that although you can't quite see what's going to grow and take root from this place of jumbled upness you do get a sense that something fresh and new is emerging is that you and if that is you I'd love just to get a sense of what you see is emerging in your life at the moment so that's the question for today is what do you see as a transition in your life at the moment the the transition from something that is shifted and is moving into another phase of your life can you see what that transition is can you see what might be growing from this place of transition and if you can I'd love to hear from just love to hear what you're seeing for yourself

Reviews

Thank you, Liz. This reflection resonates. There’s no doubt I’m in transition (recovering from a burn-out). I’m 61 and still have about 7 working years ahead. At the moment I really don’t know what work will look like in the years to come. A year ago this ‘not knowing’ would make me panic. Thanks a.o. to your reflections I have found a sense of peace and trust. I feel that ‘the compost’ is doing what it should do and know that something is taking form.

I've changed all my eating habits and started exercising recently. I've never felt so healthy and so good before in my whole life. This time I'm sure I won't give up so easily. As a result, I've been able to sleep better and I've been feeling much calmer. I really see myself taking care of myself forever. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm becoming a better version of myself.

Oh yes - that liminal space in between! That's exactly where I am right now. I've been through most of the physical changes of menopause but was not prepared for the number of mental changes that came with it. I find these harder than the physical changes as they make me a different person from the one I was before. Presently they are shrinking my world and my place in it and I very much hope they are a phase that passes and I come out the other side, maybe not who I once was, but hopefully still competent, brave and knowing what I want to achieve in my later years. At the moment the mental challenges are substantial enough to alter the path I thought I would be on but not yet provide clear signposts as to where that path is going.

Yes, I’m definitely in a place of transition. I am hopeful that something new and wonderful is coming from it, but I feel quite bogged down now. I help care for an elderly mother, I have children and grandchildren in my life, and I am still processing the end of long-term relationship, even though it happened a year ago. And I am acutely aware of the aches and pains of my aging body along with the restrictions that come with that. I am glad there is a lot more conversation around this stage of life for women. There is an American named Dr. Mindy Pelz who is doing a lot of work in this area too. Perhaps you know of her? Contributing to the ongoing conversation.🙏🏻🧡

Thanks Liz 🙏🏼 this is true and nothing prepares women for menopause. For some it is like an earthquake happening and for others it is not so intense.
Yet for all that is happening inside of us as women, society doesn’t understand menopause and expects women to carry on being like they are still in their 20’s.
As I am in my 70’s I feel I can relate to the composting aspect. I am laying down good product ( knowledge ) into the compost heap to create new good growth coming along . Preparing the beds for the new growth. Or I like to think I am.
I like how you are looking at Menopause Liz from a Natures aspect and could see you doing a series of sessions on it for IT.
🌿☘️💚☘️🌿