Let Go and Start Fresh
Another Of Our Ways To Persevere
All photos by Don Pierce, unless noted otherwise.
Letting go is the nature's way to say, "Hey! It's time to clear out the fridge." Like the leftovers you swear will eat, but you know deep down that they've become sentient. Activism requires you to let go of the old to make space for the new. How to embrace renewal and not lose your mind or your sense of humor.
Lesson 1: Assess Priorities – The Great Garden Weeding of Life
Imagine your activism as a garden. You plant all at first because you are feeling ambitious. Roses of justice and carrots of equity. Maybe even some exotic fruits of intersectionality. The weeds that come from "too many obligations" start to grow. Your garden suddenly looks like a jungle and you are stuck in the middle, wondering how it got out of control.
Here's a trick:
Grab your gardening gloves metaphorically and do a reassessment. What's growing and what is just taking up space?
It's fine to remove a project if it has become the activist equivalent of an wilting Zucchini. Compost the waste! Compost it!
Nothing says renewal more than turning the soil of yesterday into the soil of tomorrow.
Lesson 2: Recognize When It’s Time to Let Go – AKA, Marie Kondo Your Activism
It's okay if not every strategy or commitment brings you joy. Why do you hold onto tactics that are outdated?
Imagine that you are a tree during autumn. It's time to let go of the leaves. They have done what they were supposed to do: provided shade, absorbed sun, and looked great in Instagram pictures. They may flutter to the ground in a dramatic way, but guess what they will do? Decompose them and they will nourish the soil.
Translators for activists
What about that campaign you have been running but it isn't working? It could be a leaf about to fall.
What committee have you been in that makes you feel like you're shouting into the air? It's time to let the fluttering go.
Remember: Not even the most powerful oak would bother to hold onto every leaf. It's busy preparing for the spring.
Lesson 3: Celebrate Renewal – Throw a Party for Your New Beginnings
Here's a little secret: Nature loves to do it again. After wildfires, forests regrow, rivers create new paths and you? You're no different. You should welcome renewal with the same enthusiasm as a child who gets a snowday.
Start your new project as if you were planting a sapling. Give it your best soil (your effort), water it frequently (your time), then celebrate each little sprout. It might take some time for your plant to become something big, but that's half the fun.
Collaborations are also important! It's like finding out that peanut butter and jam go together. It's messy and delicious, but it could change the world.
Lesson 4: Navigate Transitions – The Activism Lifecycle (with Bonus Animal Analogies)
Think of activism like a never-ending cycle of butterflies:
The egg stage: Your idea hatches. It is fragile and has a lot of potential. Everyone is excited and says "Wow! That's going be amazing!"
Caterpillar stage: It's crunch time. You are chomping away at tasks like an overworked, tiny leaf-muncher. It is not glamorous but it's necessary.
The cocoon stage: Things Slow down. Your strategy may not be working. You may feel stuck. You can take a moment to reflect and let go of anything that is not working for you. (Pro tip: cocoons are often underrated. (Pro tip: Enjoy the peace and quiet.
The Butterfly Stage: BAM Renewal. You come out with an exciting new idea, and you dazzle everyone with your colorful wing (and your ability make it look easy).
What is the key? Each stage of the butterfly is valid. Trust the process, even if it feels like you're a caterpillar who has been overworked. You will be fluttering once again in no time.
Nature’s Comedy of Errors: Why Renewal Is Hilariously Relatable
You will not always be right, just as nature isn't. It's okay. It's awkward and messy to renew, just like when you watch a bird building a nest that falls apart half way through. The bird does not give up. It just picks up more twigs to start again.
Take inspiration from:
Rivers change direction when the old course isn't effective. You can always go over or around a wall if your activism is stuck.
Wolves They leave packs that aren't effective hunters. Howling your way to better fitting clothes is possible for you too.
Mushrooms : They thrive off decay and turn the old into something new. Go ahead and channel your inner fungi to get started on renewal.
Closing Thoughts: The Cycle of Continuous Growth
The cycle of activism is not a straight line. It's an adventure full of twists and turns, laughter, growth, decay, and renewal. Even when chaos seems to be the norm, every phase and step is important.
Let go of the things that no longer work. Celebrate the new opportunities that sprouted in their place. When in doubt, remember to follow nature's example: Adapt and laugh at your mistakes. Bloom where you are planted, even if it takes longer than expected.
HumaNatureConnect Activity
Outdoor Activity: "The Forest Cycle – Letting Go and Starting Fresh"
Objective:
To explore the dual processes of letting go and starting fresh as essential tools for perseverance, using nature’s cycles as a model. Participants will engage in reflective and interactive activities that mirror how ecosystems shed the old and regenerate the new.
