Lessons from the Desert and the Stars: Letting Go and Embracing Change

Andromeda Galaxy from Kitt Peak National Observatory, AZ

I recently found myself in two awe-inspiring places at the same time - the quiet, endless desert and beneath the vast night sky at Kitt Peak, surrounded by planets and galaxies millions of light-years away. Both experiences left me humbled, offering clarity in ways I didn’t expect.

In the desert, my stress often feels insignificant against the vast horizon. It’s why I go every year to process life. But under the stars, I was reminded of a paradox: while the universe’s enormity makes our daily worries feel small, our lives and choices still hold profound meaning because - we matter. Our stories matter.

Standing beneath the stars, I was struck by the realization that we are all witnessing the past. The light we see from galaxies like Andromeda began its journey millions of years ago. We can’t even know if that galaxy still exists today. This cosmic truth is a reminder of life’s fleeting, uncertain nature - and the inevitability of loss and change.

Every year, grief finds its way into our lives. We lose people, opportunities, projects, or roles we poured ourselves into. Change is constant, and it often comes with the sting of what’s left behind. As someone who values altruism deeply, I’ve often poured my energy into work relationships and commitments - giving, building, and supporting without always stopping to ask whether that effort was sustainable for me.

Stepping back a bit to reflect in 2024 has been both hard and necessary. It’s given me the clarity to see where my energy was going and how much of it was tied to dynamics that lacked reciprocity. In many working relationships, I’ve shouldered responsibilities or initiated efforts that were never meant to be mine alone. And when I stop over-functioning, I often find silence where collaboration or shared effort should have been.

That realization brings its own kind of grief - the acknowledgment that not every connection or effort will endure. But it also brings something else: perspective. Even the relationships or roles that lack balance aren’t wasted. They’ve taught me what needs of mine weren’t being met and helped me see what others may have been longing for, even if they didn’t know how to express it. This story is not unique to me, none of us are alone in this.

Letting go doesn’t mean giving up. It means honoring the natural cycles of beginnings and endings, the ebb and flow of human connection and professional roles. It means making space for what truly serves us - work that aligns with our values, relationships that nurture mutual respect and connection, and commitments that leave us both inspired and grounded.

As the stars often remind us, light takes time to travel. What we see today is often a reflection of what was, not what is. The same is true of our work and connections. Loss is inevitable, but so is renewal. By letting go of what no longer serves us, we make space for the light that’s still to come.

This coming year, I’m pausing to honor both the grief and the growth that change brings along the way - BEFORE I visit the desert. Life is too short to lose ourselves in what no longer fits. Our intuition knows this; we just have to be willing to listen and trust ourselves. And the right projects, relationships, and opportunities? They’ll meet us where we are, shining just like the starlight that finds its way to us across time and space. The cycle repeats and resiliency is ours to claim. What a gift...

Kitt Peak sunset w/ SARA Observatory on left (https://www.saraobservatory.org/about)