The Autumn Years

By Sally Cross, Author of Books & Blogs.

(Intimacy & Relationship Coach, Therapeutic Coach.)

Midlife often mirrors the season of autumn—a time when the air cools, the leaves turn, and nature reminds us of the beauty in change. Autumn is a special reminder of balance: light and dark in equal measure during the equinox. For many of us, midlife feels just like that—a season of both letting go and gathering in, of endings that carry the seeds of new beginnings.

🍂 Letting Go, Like the Leaves

Trees don’t cling to their leaves when autumn arrives. They surrender them, trusting the cycle of life. In midlife, we’re invited to do the same—shedding what no longer serves us. That might be old roles, outdated expectations, people-pleasing habits, or even the belief that our best days are behind us.

Letting go doesn’t always come easily. Sometimes we cling tightly because the familiar feels safer than the unknown. But autumn whispers gently: release, and make room for what’s next.

🍂 Gathering Wisdom

Autumn isn’t just about falling leaves; it’s also harvest time. After years of living, loving, giving, and striving, midlife offers us a chance to gather the wisdom from our experiences. We can look back and see how far we’ve come—not through rose-tinted glasses, but with honest compassion for ourselves.

The “fruits” of this season might be resilience, clarity about what we want, or the realisation that joy often lies in simple things.

🍂 The Beauty of Change

So often, change is painted as something to fear. But autumn shows us that change can be breathtakingly beautiful. The fiery colours of leaves remind us that even endings can glow.

In midlife, change might mean children leaving home, relationships shifting, or health nudging us to slow down. Instead of seeing these as losses only, we can view them as transformations—moments where life invites us to rewrite our story.

🍂 A Gentle Invitation

This is a reminder to pause, reflect, and find balance—between light and dark, doing and resting, holding on and letting go.

Ask yourself:

• What am I ready to let go of, like the leaves falling from the trees?

• What wisdom am I gathering and carrying forward?

• How might I see beauty in the changes I’m facing?

Breathe deeply. Imagine yourself walking through a forest of golden leaves. Feel the crunch beneath your feet, the coolness in the air, and the quiet assurance that even as things fall away, life continues—preparing the way for winter’s rest and spring’s renewal.

Because autumn is not an ending; it’s part of a cycle. And midlife is not a full stop—it’s simply a comma, a pause before the next chapter begins.

✨What leaf are you ready to let fall away this autumn, as this time of year reminds us of balance and renewal?

Sally x

I delve deeper into these subjects in my book, 'She Rises: A Midlife Woman's Intimacy Guide to Reconnection & Reclaiming Her Sensual Self.'

https://www.sallycross.com/my-books