To every season, turn, turn, turn.

Before my time, in 1965, the Byrds wrote a song called turn, turn, turn. My dad used to play it for me when I was younger, and as I sit beside a rainy window and am seeing the leaves on my neighbours tree change colour I started to hum the song. I then went to google and googled the lyrics and I got goosebumps. How many times have I heard this song? How many times did I sing it without really knowing how much truth it holds?

To everything - turn, turn, turn

There is a season - turn, turn, turn

And a time to every purpose under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die

A time to plant, a time to reap

A time to kill, a time to heal

A time to laugh, a time to weep

To everything - turn, turn, turn

There is a season - turn, turn, turn

And a time to every purpose under heaven

A time to build up, a time to break down

A time to dance, a time to mourn

A time to cast away stones

A time to gather stones together

To everything - turn, turn, turn

There is a season - turn, turn, turn

And a time to every purpose under heaven

A time of love, a time of hate

A time of war, a time of peace

A time you may embrace

A time to refrain from embracing

To everything - turn, turn, turn

There is a season - turn, turn, turn

And a time to every purpose under heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose

A time to rend, a time to sew

A time for love, a time for hate

A time for peace, I swear it's not too late!

It is pretty apropos that this song should be playing in my head as we are on the cusp of fall. It is pretty fitting that it should be in my head as I read the headlines of war and genocide. It is also quite striking at a time in my own life when there is a deliberate effort to stand up for myself.

I have lost a significant person in my life, not through death but through a change of season I guess you could say. It has caused me to reevaluate many of the things that shaped my decision making in the past, particularly when it comes to the yoga studio. It has caused me to pause and reevaluate.

I am no longer willing to play small. I am no longer willing to be meek, it is my time to put my needs and the needs of the studio first. As the lyrics say, it is a time to build up, a time to plant. And with that I am so excited to be working on the September schedule, it is going to be epic. For the first time in a while I feel free to take every little idea and let it blossom into magic, to not let myself be small.

These is a quote by Marianne Williamson:

“You playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightening about shrinking so others won’t feel insecure around you. As you let your own light shine, you indirectly give others permission to do the same.”

I am going to live my life out loud, I am going to own my business out loud. The time of being small to make others comfortable is over, and I invite you to do the same. What is there in your life that has been whispering to you to get your attention? Is there a business you want to own? A class you want to take? A book or play you want to write? A painting that needs creating? What is it? What is that small niggling thing that makes your heart pump a little harder? As the seasons change we are about to see just how beautiful it can be to let go; so let go. Let go of all of the things that are holding you back. Take the first step, even if it is the scariest thing you have ever done.

The season to be quiet and meek is over, the season to let your light shine is now.