If Not Now, When? The Urgency of Renewal

Look around. Nature doesn't apologize for its cycles of death and rebirth. The trees don't hesitate to shed their leaves. Yet here we are, clutching to old versions of ourselves, afraid to let go. We've been exploring what it means to "overwinter"—to find strength and growth in life's slower seasons. 

I've been thinking a lot about renewal lately. Not the self-help, "new year, new you" kind that fills Instagram feeds and bookstore shelves. I'm talking about real renewal – the kind that changes you from the inside out.

Here's the truth: Renewal isn't about starting over. It's about starting from where you are.

If you've been following along, we've discussed four concepts over the past several weeks. I've discovered that meaningful renewal rests on these four pillars:

• Preparation: Clearing the noise from your life
• Conservation: Protecting your energy like it's sacred (because it is)
• Protection: Building boundaries that actually stick
• Adaptation: Learning to flow with life’s changes.

These aren't just nice ideas. They're survival tools for the modern world.

Think about the Notre Dame Cathedral for a moment. When it burned in 2019, people around the world watched in horror as centuries of history went up in flames. But what happened next? The French didn't just rebuild – they renewed. They took their time, honored what was lost, and created something over the next five years that carried forward both history and hope.

This is what real renewal looks like. It's not about erasing the past; it's about building on its foundation.

Renewal Isn’t Instant—It’s Intentional

Think about how nature handles renewal. It doesn't rush. It doesn't skip steps. Every leaf that falls, every branch that breaks – it's all part of the process. Even the legendary phoenix, that great symbol of renewal, doesn't just burst into flames on a whim. It prepares. It gathers. It builds its own pyre with purpose.

That's what we've been doing too. Each step of this overwintering journey has been preparing us for this moment. Like the phoenix, we're not here to start over – we're here to transform with intention.

Here's what nobody tells you: The burning part? It's not a one-time event. It's a practice. Genuine renewal requires you to be both the phoenix and the flame. You have to be willing to burn away what no longer serves you.

Your Turn: Making Renewal Real

Stop for a moment. Take a breath. Ask yourself:

• What am I carrying that I need to put down?
• Which habits are feeding my future self, and which ones are stealing from it?
• What would I do differently if I truly believed in my own renewal?

The answers might make you uncomfortable. Good. Comfort never changed anyone.

The Path Forward

You can keep waiting for the perfect moment to transform your life. But as Marcus Aurelius reminded us centuries ago – and I keep reminding myself – time is running out, not in a morbid way, but in the most urgent and challenging way possible.

Change happens today. Not tomorrow, next week, or when you "feel ready." Today.

It's okay to start small:

• Sit in silence for 10 minutes
• Write down one thing you need to let go
• Take one step toward what matters most

Remember: The present is your future's past. Each moment of renewal, no matter how small, shapes what's possible in the future.

A Final Thought

Like the Notre Dame restoration team, you don't have to figure it all out at once. You just have to start. Take what you've learned, release what doesn't serve you, and move forward with purpose.

This isn't just another post about change. It's an invitation to begin. Right now. Because if not now, when?

The Overwintering series explores how we can embrace the natural rhythms of rest and renewal in our own lives. Inspired by the way nature prepares for winter, this series will offer insights and practical steps for slowing down, reflecting, and laying the groundwork for growth.