When the Mountains Call: A Fall Reflection on Rhythm and Renewal
Guest Author: Ginny Telego | The Collaboration Partners
This year has been full of newness — and with it, uncertainty. Last November, my husband and I left Ohio, our home for 28 years, to pursue our dream of living in Colorado. We drove across the country with our four Australian Shepherds and one cat, my husband managing the movers and horse haulers from Ohio while I headed west ahead of him to meet them at our new home.
The journey was filled with every emotion imaginable. I was leaving a chosen community where I’d been deeply rooted as a leader and friend. With Connectedness as my top CliftonStrength, the thought of loosening those ties was daunting. For three days on the road — with two Aussies in the backseat — I had plenty of time to sit with the weight of that transition.
When I pulled into our driveway at sunset, the mountains framed in multiple tones of red, yellow, and orange, I felt a deep breath of gratitude — as if the land itself was welcoming me into a new rhythm. My horses arrived the next day, my husband a few days later. Every morning and evening since, the mountains are my reminder to pause and take in the beauty around me.
Now, as my first fall in Colorado approaches, I look forward to the Aspens turning gold and the cool air settling in — a shift my horses will surely welcome too. I’m learning to balance staying connected to my Ohio roots while building a new community here, grateful for the friends already nearby who made the transition easier.
The autumn equinox, arriving on September 22 this year, is a natural time to reflect before winter’s rest. In nature, autumn is about preparation — gathering what sustains us, releasing what no longer serves, and making space for renewal. My own autumn will be full of international travel for my work in equine-assisted learning with leaders from around the world. Rest will come in winter, but I still feel the season urging me to prepare inwardly for what’s ahead.
Each day, my horses invite me to be present — to set aside emails, client concerns, and household to-do’s, and simply “be.” Horses want and need us to be congruent — for our inner and outer selves to match — so we can be a safe presence for them. That lesson is just as vital in leadership and life. In order to return to that place of presence, we have to be willing to reflect on what has our attention from the past or in the future and let go of those things even momentarily to allow our mind and body to decompress and rebalance.
After nine months here, I am finding my new rhythms. I’m embracing the courage it has taken to start fresh, to rebuild community, and to step into the next chapter of my life journey.
As the autumn equinox approaches, I invite you to pause, free from distractions, and explore these questions:
* Where am I in balance, and where am I out of balance in my life?
* What is contributing to my sense of balance?
* What is contributing to my imbalance?
* What choices do I need to make to create the balance I need and want?
* If I am in balance for myself, what becomes possible?
I’d love to hear what you discover.
