Wise sycamore tree lets go of old bark
As we enter 2026, now is a good time to let go of things that upset us in 2025 so we can begin the new year without those old burdens.
Some trees have a way of doing that. They shed their bark to get rid of the brittle exterior layer. That lets a fresh and pliable layer underneath to emerge. Sycamores are good at letting go of the old to reveal fresh, new, healthy bark.
They’re not alone. Snakes and spiders are among animals that shed their old skin to reveal the new.
Letting go is a natural part of nature. It’s not always easy for humans to do. We have a way of holding on to fears, grudges, disappointments, and anger. Some people look for ways to harm those who have defied or disappointed them. Their attempt to control and punish others may feel justified in the moment. But it has a down side. It keeps us so focused on our negative feelings that we can’t move forward to discover the positive opportunities that await us.
Letting go can be a powerful thing to do. It keeps us from wallowing in the past. If we are so attached to something that happened earlier, we might fail to see what good things lie ahead.
If the sycamore tree decided to hang onto its brittle bark, it would not enjoy the fresh, more pliable layer underneath. Hanging on when it’s time to let go enmeshes us in all that held us back. For us, that brittle bark could be an angry conversation, an imagined confrontation that never occurred, an insult, or someone’s attempt to make us feel inferior. Why should we hold on to those things? They only keep us mired in the past.
The sycamore tree knows instinctively when it’s time to let go of brittle exterior bark so there’s room for new, healthier bark. I like the sycamore’s instinctive understanding that letting go is more powerful than clinging to what is no longer healthy. One of my 2026 goals is to recognize the power of letting go.