Love the trees until their leaves fall off, then encourage them to try again next year.

Using the seasonal cycle of trees as a metaphor, the quote urges steady, compassionate commitment through change and apparent loss. Loving a tree “until their leaves fall off” suggests valuing something (or someone) beyond its most visibly flourishing phase; the bare season is not failure but part of a natural rhythm. “Encourage them to try again next year” reframes setbacks as temporary dormancy and emphasizes renewal, patience, and hope. The line can be read as advice for relationships, mentorship, or self-care: remain supportive when energy, productivity, or beauty wanes, and treat recovery as an expected return rather than a miracle.