Now that cooler weather has finally arrived in South Texas, I've started unpacking our winter clothes from storage.  Among the first things to emerge and get worn again were my beloved house slippers.  They're incredibly comfortable; the thick, black wool wraps my feet with just the right amount of warmth and pressure.  Not too hot or cold, not too tight or loose, with the perfect degree of arch support underneath my flat feet. Which is why I have them on again right now.  
 
The only problem is they're well worn, to say the least.  Both of my big toes stick out through gaping holes, which isn't surprising, considering that a dear friend gave them to me for Christmas many years ago (ten?  twelve? Probably longer, but it's hard to remember...)  These slippers have served me very well, so I've been loathe to replace them.  My kind wife has lovingly patched those holes at least twice in recent years, and now they're really beyond repair, but I don't care.  I love them.  Okay, they're embarrassing to wear if we have guests, and, yes, they're slightly drafty in front, but hey, they're still incredibly cozy.
 
And, yet, the truth is that it's really, no kidding, time to replace them.  But that's much easier said than done. I've tried before, several years running.  The manufacturer doesn't make this particular model anymore.  Plus, they were quite expensive, so it's hard to match their level of craftsmanship, texture and warmth - much less their arch support, which is pretty rare feature in house slippers.  And because I'm very picky about what I'll wear on my feet, and because I refuse to buy shoes online, and because there's not a large range of options in winter wear available locally in sunny San Antonio, I've had lots of perfectly good excuses for clinging to these ratty old things. Still, now that I've finally made this decision, it ought to be just a matter of time before a new pair is bought.  Hopefully, before the first real cold front blows in...
 
Yet there's a larger question all this brings to mind for me -- and perhaps for you, too:  why do we tend to resist change so much? Not only with regard to mundane things like worn out slippers, but many other areas in life as well.  Why hang on to old habits, possessions, and relationships, long after they've stopped serving us, and have started to get in the way of our growth and well-being? 
 
I don't claim to know, but as I stare through the open window in front of me, I feel a cool autumn breeze come wafting in.  Meanwhile, many of the trees in our backyard are shedding leaves, as groups of migrating monarch butterflies drift by under the crisp, clear sky, making their annual trip to Mexico.  They all seem to be asking me the same thing that I'm asking myself (and you):  "What limiting thoughts, patterns or possessions is it time to release now?"   Hmm... 
 
With blessings and best wishes for your Highest Good,