Shedding Before You Run

debbydowling
58 minutes ago
3 min read

Some years whisper. Others ask politely. And then there are years that insist.

For me, 2025—the Year of the Snake—has been one of those insistent years. The kind that quietly but firmly says, “This no longer fits. It’s time.”

Year of the Snake releasing & shedding what no longer serves

The Wisdom of the Snake 🐍

In many traditions, the Snake represents renewal, intuition, and transformation. It sheds its skin not because it wants to—but because IT HAS TO. What once protected it eventually becomes restrictive.

That’s exactly how this year has felt.

Throughout 2025, I’ve been shedding layers of my life that no longer serve me. Some of these changes were very conscious choices. Others arrived unexpectedly, without warning, and without my permission.

I’ve cleared out old contact info. Ended conversations that had nowhere left to go. Released relationships that no longer felt aligned. Let go of yoga classes I’ve taught for years.

Getting rid of something you’ve poured yourself into isn’t easy—even when you know it’s time. Sometimes it's really really hard.

But the Snake doesn’t second-guess the shedding. It doesn’t cling to the old skin out of nostalgia. It releases because holding on would limit what’s next.

When Letting Go Isn’t Failure

Here’s something we don’t talk about enough: Letting go isn’t failure. It’s completion.

Not everything ends because it went wrong. Some things end because they’ve done exactly what they were meant to do.

This year has asked me to be honest about what still brings me joy—and what I’ve been holding onto simply because it’s familiar. That kind of honesty can feel uncomfortable, but it’s also incredibly freeing. The shedding isn’t about loss. It’s about creating space.

Preparing for the Wild Horse 🐎

Because what follows the Snake is the Horse.

The Year of the Horse—especially the Wild Horse—is about freedom, momentum, courage, and movement. It’s about opportunity and forward motion. About seeing an opening and trusting yourself enough to take it.

But here’s the thing about Horse energy: It doesn’t move slowly. It doesn’t wait for perfection. And it doesn’t carry unnecessary weight.

You can’t gallop into a new season while dragging old stories, outdated roles, or heavy emotional baggage behind you.

That’s why the shedding comes first.

The Snake clears the way so the Horse can run.

The Space Between What Was and What’s Coming

Right now, I feel like I’m standing in that in-between space. The old skin has been released, but the next chapter hasn’t fully revealed itself yet.

And honestly? That space can feel vulnerable.

But it’s also where trust is built.

I can already feel the energy shifting—subtle signs of momentum, clarity, and excitement. That quiet inner yes that says, “Something new is forming.”

If you’re feeling restless, reflective, or called to simplify your life, you might be in your own Snake year moment—even if you can’t yet see where it’s leading.

This Is the Work I Keep Coming Back To

This process of shedding, trusting, and stepping forward is at the heart of my yoga practice—and my life.

It’s also why I wrote my book:✨ Still Hot: Your Guide to Sexy, Strong & Confident After 40 and Beyond ✨

This book isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about releasing outdated expectations and reconnecting to who you already are—strong, capable, confident, and fully alive.

Just like the Snake sheds what no longer fits, we get to let go of old stories about aging, worth, and who we’re “supposed” to be.

And just like the Horse, we get to move forward with energy, freedom, and trust in our own power.

It's avaialbe HERE in both print and kindle on Amazon