A November Kind of Grace

Dear Not So Secret Diary,

There’s something about this time of year, maybe it’s the stillness of November or the way the leaves let go without resistance, that makes me think about transformation. The truth is, we’ve all faced transformation in some form: financial, emotional, spiritual, or physical. Transforming is something we are typically nervous about, but this year, it feels like the winds are blowing us into a new, prosperous direction.

A big part of transforming is letting go. As simple as the action of letting go sounds, the mental aspect of it can be the hardest thing to do. For some reason, we tend to have a tight grip on the very things that keep us from peace. But maybe November can remind us that release is not loss — it’s trust. It’s saying, “I’m ready for something new.” Just like the trees make space for new life, we can too. When you let go, you make room for peace to move in. You start to see that what fills you should feed you, not just comfort you.

Another part of transforming is expansion. Expansion requires the understanding that nothing will look the same as it once did. It means reimagining your life with new eyes. Choosing to believe that what’s ahead can be better than what’s behind. November reminds us of that. It’s a month of gratitude and grace, a time to sit with what has changed and thank it for teaching us something. Maybe expansion this season looks like forgiving yourself. Maybe it’s finally admitting that you deserve the same love and compassion you give so freely to others. Expansion doesn’t have to be loud or public; sometimes it’s quiet, internal, and deeply sacred.

The last part of transforming is becoming. Becoming is the stage where everything you’ve released and everything you’ve expanded into starts to make sense. It’s when you realize that change was never meant to break you — it was meant to reveal you. November is the pause before the bloom, a season that reminds us that even in stillness, we are becoming something beautiful. Becoming asks us to trust that even the quiet work counts, that unseen progress is still progress. When you finally pause to reflect, you’ll notice how far you’ve come, and how much more at peace you feel simply being who you are becoming.

As we gather around tables this Thanksgiving, may we also gather the lessons that change has taught us. Let’s be thankful not just for what we have, but for what we’ve released because both are blessings in their own way. This season, give yourself permission to evolve. To shed what’s heavy. To thank the past for its lessons and make space for what’s new. Transformation doesn’t always announce itself — sometimes it arrives quietly, through small acts of gratitude, faith, and surrender. And one day, you’ll look back and realize that the season you thought was ending was actually the beginning of your bloom.

Love Always,

Capree'