Winter
As winter settles in, the world around us shifts into a slower rhythm. The air sharpens, daylight shortens, and nature gently invites us to pause. Underneath the bare branches and frosted ground, an important truth is unfolding: this season is not empty, nor is it stagnant. It is a vital fallow period - a time when life withdraws, restores, and prepares for what comes next.
In the natural world, nothing is expected to bloom endlessly. Trees conserve their energy, seeds rest in the soil, and the land takes a deep breath. This period of apparent stillness is actually rich with quiet activity. Without it, spring’s growth would be thin and fragile. Winter is nature’s way of gathering strength.
Humans are no different, yet we often feel pressure to stay productive and emotionally “up” throughout the year. When our energy dips, or when life asks us to slow down, it can feel uncomfortable - perhaps even like we’re falling behind. But winter reminds us that rest is not a retreat from life; it is a necessary part of its cycle.
A fallow period in our own lives might look like:
Taking time to reflect rather than pushing for answers
Allowing emotions to settle and rearrange themselves
Letting go of old patterns that no longer serve
Creating space for inner repair and quiet creativity
These pauses - whether chosen or imposed - make room for the new growth that will follow. Just as a field lies fallow so that nutrients can return to the soil, our minds and bodies need moments when we are simply not producing. Not striving. Not forcing change. Just being.
And when spring comes, it does so gently at first: early shoots pushing through cold ground, longer light, the slow unfurling of colour. Our own renewal often happens the same way - small shifts, emerging clarity, a lifting sense of possibility.
This winter, you might like to give yourself permission to embrace your own fallow time. Rest without guilt. Restore without rushing. Trust that beneath the surface, important things are taking shape.
Because when the season turns, the seeds you’ve quietly nurtured will be ready - strong, rooted, and full of potential for the months ahead.
Why am I telling you this?
Our brains are metaphorical things. Our unconscious mind - the thing that REALLY guides our every thought and feeling, understands just about everything via metaphor - stories and mental images. They might seem simple, maybe even a bit corny, but they have real power when it comes to communicating ideas and making changes to your health.
Hope you enjoyed this little sketch. If nothing else, it's a chance to take a few minutes and enjoy a moment's reading and reflection.
I have lots of stories to tell you....come and find out what your story might be!