One thing we can always count on is change. Nature has taught me that nothing stands still. The way of living things is birth, growth, death and repurposing. Life is nothing more than a river of molecules passing through form. Forming and dissolving.
After I posted a graceful ash tree next to a stream last Sunday, that afternoon, I chose to walk that same beautiful trail for my afternoon amble. I was struck by the ironic timing of my post when I came upon this development: 
Clearly the combination of the stress crack (visible in the first photo), moisture, rot, freezing and thawing over many years, yielded to the high winds we recently experienced.
So yes, change again happens in the forest in way that is evident to the human eye. The life force continues. I will witness the elements dissolving this tree slowly back to the earth, microbes breaking it down to nourish countless life forms that may live again as moss, ferns and perhaps a tree seedling, starting the process all over again. There really is no death, simply a dissolving of one form into another. A beautiful, miraculous thing, isn’t it?
Eliza Waters 
Facing so much change in my life. I’m happy to look at it as a chance for renewal. It can be hard when things feel final, though.
PS – Love the photo of the ash before it donated its body to the forest floor.
Yes, resistance to change only makes it harder. I think we need to honor loss and grieve it, but moving on is what nature does and doing the same makes sense. Let it go. Embrace what follows. It might be awesome!
Love your PS – sounds like an organ donation! 😀
Very sound advice, Eliza!
Love this post! Makes me feel more peaceful and accepting of change
Thank you, Ellen, I’m happy to read that!
Such a lovely tribute to the leaning ash tree Eliza. And wise words for us all, particularly people like me who find change hard and challenging.
Thank you. It is curious that humans are so resistant to change, while the other animals seem to just take it in stride. I envy that ability!
Beautiful photos and post. Change is the only constant.
Yes, it is. Thank you, Natalia.
Impressive tree shots. Noticing the subtle changes wrought by nature as we walk the same paths makes me appreciate the continuity of nature. An inner voice says ‘yes, this is the way it is supposed to be ‘. Plus, one can see when things seem wrong.
I find a lot of comfort in that rhythm. Thanks, Jim.
This is so true. Nature can teach us so much! Awesome photos, btw! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Cecilia!
Beautiful photographs Eliza!
Thank you, Frances!
a message for me here too x x very wise 🙂 x x x
Glad to hear it. Thank you, Sophie! xo
It really is miraculous!
This really is a beautiful place – wherever the tree happens to stand or fall.
Yes, I couldn’t believe the coincidence…kinda spooky, like a part of me already knew it was gone and prompted me to post about it? Cue Twilight Zone music… 😉
The perfect soundtrack for this!
🙂
I like this philosophy. And your moss photo is beautiful.
Thank you, Lisa. 🙂
We keep returning to a favourite reserve that looks and feels like the one you describe. I guess that’s why we keep returning.
Beauty and serenity draws us in. 🙂
Yes, it is beautiful. Nothing organic, including us, is every destroyed or lost, it is just is used to create new life.
That tree really splintered didn’t it! It must have made the loudes crack!
Thanks, Cindy, that is what I thought – it must have reverberated throughout the valley.
Really beautiful, Eliza! Wonderful words and pictures.
Thank you, Mary. ❤
Awww…….natural, yes, but still hard to lose an old friend.
Yes, I will miss it. It was only a matter of time, but I had many years to admire its graceful curve. With all that splintering, it must have been like a rifle-crack when it went over. ‘When a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound?’ You betcha! 😉
Eliza, I love this perspective on “death” and the fact we get to witness this transformation- brought by your journeys 🙂
Thank you, Kim. Nature is the ultimate recycler. 🙂
Just beautiful.
Thank you, Gigi.
Ah yes, nature shares her ability to transform with ease.
Such an insightful post Eliza 💛
Thank you very much, Val. 🙂
Great post and beautiful shots Eliza, this is exactly what life is all about.
Thank you so much, Karen.
Just so beautiful and so true. Thanks Eliza.
Thank you, Karen. ❤
I think both states are quite beautiful, and so welcome. Thanks for the reminder.
I think the closer we get, the more accepting we are, perhaps?
That’s certainly true in my case.
🙂
The woods seem to be a lesson in themselves to walk though.
My greatest teacher!
I can see why 🙂 Lovely pictures too .
Thank you! 🙂
🙂
A beautiful post
Thank you, Derrick.
Oh wow, I see what you mean. What a beautiful post.
Thank you, Allison. It was a surprise to come upon.
Truly a great post Eliza.
Thank you so much, Sylvia.
Once again, I am in awe of your wisdom and grace! (Much like that tree.)
Thank you, Kathy, I feel flattered. 🙂
Beautiful but sad.
Yes, it always is when a friend passes.
We can learn so much from the forest….loved this post and oh how I envy you with your paradise to walk in each day:-) You are truly blessed:-)
Thank you, Robbie. Yes, I do feel quite blessed. 🙂
Well, you timed that first shot well. It’s a good thing you didn’t wait to return the next day for better light! Everything’s transitory. It makes life all the sweeter.
Thanks. Everything is transitory. I’m just glad I didn’t walk there on that windy day!
a thoughtful post, Eliza. I work part time in a plant nursery and I would hate to put plants that were past their best on the compost heap, but as the owner explained, they will break down and their nutrients will enrich the compost and hence benefit the new plants …..
The circle of life!
My what excellent timing you have.
😀 Yes, I guess you could say that!
I like the thought, no such thing as death just disolving from one form into another.
Thank you, Brian.
You have expressed the life cycle well, Eliza…profoundly stated. Thank you for giving me thoughts to ponder!
Thank you, Jane!
What a lovely post! And the timing does seem to be so coincidental, or maybe not. I feel like it is something that you can be proud of, all of your hard work blogging, sharing these beautiful things that are important to all of us (if even in just a small way) that would never be shared by mainstream media. Thanks to you!
Wow, thank you so much for that sweet compliment, Peg, I’m honored you think that. 🙂
🙂 Yes of course! 🙂
Talking about change, I would like to share one of my favorite quotes about change: “There is nothing permanent except change”. Have a wonderful day!
Great quote, thanks Nataly!
The “circle of life” is a traditional and powerful way to think about mortality and rebirth, although nowadays it seems to make most people think of “The Lion King” movie.
Yes, I suppose so… now we’ll be humming that all day in our heads! 🙂
It is catchy! 🙂
🙂
Nothing is lost. It will give birth to another new life. Same ingredients, same mother nature. Excellent and thought-provoking post it was!
Thank you kindly, Archita.
I like all these images of woods and the light filtering in.
Thank you!
Reblogged this on A Dose of Inspiration and commented:
Change and just the idea of it can be scary but it can also be thrilling and beautiful and we can focus more on that than the fear.
Your post reminds me of the song “You’ll Never Know” sung by Ringo Starr.
” with every dawn everyday is full of chances
to find some good before it’s gone
you’ll never know which way a day is gonna take you
there’s always some surprise that comes along to shake you
a simple rule of thumb that’s often been neglected
is take life as it comes expect the unexpected”
I share this song somewhat frequently because it’s so true, inspiring, and beautiful.
I love the changes of the seasons and weather.
This is a beautiful post and beautiful photos!
❤
Thank you so much for the compliments and reblog, Kim. ❤ 🙂