It’s like jumping into a pile of leaves that you always imagined would spring you back up into the air, giving you the ride of your life. Yet when that moment actually arrives, you jump into that pile of leaves and there is no bounce.

 

You just smack the ground underneath.

 

There is no excitement; nothing in your life has changed except for now, along with a bruised bottom, you don’t have that bounce to imagine anymore.

 

Now you have to take responsibility for creating new things in your life that will give you the excitement for which you yearn.

 

It’s funny how the imagination can fulfill the wonderment you crave, but sometimes life can be nothing like what you imagined.

 

On the other hand, life is what you make it.

 

It is incredible how something you have wanted for years can just be simply dropped into your lap one day, like a leaf falling off a tree.

 

No matter that it’s nothing like you envisioned; it still happened.

 

The wish came true. That it came true is incredible.

 

Your intuition told you that the day would arrive and now that it has, you can choose to take it for what it’s worth.

 

You don’t live in your mind anymore.

 

When you jump into the pile, you smell the leaves. You feel each leaf under your skin. Some are moist – and some are dry and scratchy.

 

Some smell like dirt and others still hold the scent of the tree they left behind. You hear them crunching under each movement of your body. The sound fills your body with smiles and giggles.

 

You realize that each day of autumn, there is another pile to jump into.

 

You appreciate that you have the energy and strength to make as many leaps as you want.

 

The leaves can hold you up off the ground if you let them. Look inside each leaf, no matter if it is fresh and green – or dried and drab – each one has its own special charm with its own beautiful message.

 

Each one was created with its own special purpose and now they are all here ready to help you smile if you will let them help you.

 

It’s up to you whether or not to enjoy the leap and all it has to offer.

 

So make the choice now… choose to love the leaves that you were given, even if they were flat and dried, or slimy and moldy… they are your leaves, given to you so you could find the beauty in them; given to you to help you find the beauty in yourself.