About five months ago, I had a work-related visit to a nearby area — a day that left a lasting impression on me. I hadn’t shared this experience here until now, but it has stayed with me ever since, and today felt like the right moment to revisit and narrate it.
It was during the autumn season, that magical time of year when nature quietly begins its transformation. The air was crisp, and a strong breeze had passed through earlier that morning, shaking loose a shower of leaves from the trees. I had spent the day occupied with official duties and, by evening, found myself heading towards a local school where some development work was underway.
As I entered the school premises, a serene sight greeted me — a relatively young chinar tree stood at the center of the courtyard, surrounded by tall green trees. Though it might have been only a decade or two old, it carried the grace of something much older. The ground beneath it was scattered with leaves in various stages of life: some still clinging to their green hue, others painted in brilliant reds and deep yellows. The entire space seemed to be telling a quiet story of change.
I paused my hurried steps and took in the beauty around me. This habit of observation has been with me for years — perhaps since my student days — and now, even as I travel for work, I continue to find time to notice the small, meaningful things around me. I don’t carry a professional camera, but my phone is always ready to capture such scenes, and that day was no exception.
I picked up a few fallen leaves — each one different from the other — and began arranging them. As I looked at their colors and patterns, a thought crossed my mind: how closely they mirror the stages of human life. The fresh green ones reminded me of youth, vibrant and full of energy. The golden and crimson ones reflected the maturity and fading glory that comes with age.
This quiet moment turned into something symbolic. I captured the leaves in a sequence — from fresh to fading — and those photos have stayed with me as a reminder of how transient and beautiful life is. Everything that begins in fullness eventually transforms, and yet, there’s grace in every stage.
What this reflection taught me is that life is never static. The strength and pride of our prime years are fleeting, and it’s humility that carries us through. The chinar tree, shedding its leaves silently, seemed to whisper a reminder — to cherish every phase, remain grounded, and treat others with gentleness.
Though months have passed since that visit, the lesson still feels fresh. I’m sharing it now, hoping it might inspire you too to find meaning in the little things we often overlook.