Falling Leaves

Sometimes I feel like my choices in life are like leaves falling from a tree in autumn. First of all, there's so many leaves. And they are all different colors and shapes. Some have multiple colors just on one leaf. Some appeal to me more than others.
Often, I'll stand under this tree, grabbing at the falling leaves. At this point, I haven't quite considered which leaves I actually want, and they are falling so quickly and the wind is moving them in so many directions that I can't even see what color or shape they are. I try with both hands to grab the leaves, but as I grab with one hand, I miss another falling leaf with the other hand. Say I catch a couple, and my hands are full. That makes it even harder for me to catch any other leaves, ones that may be a better fit for my life.
What if I stop this "grabbing" scenario? What if I just wait for these leaves to land on the ground? Once they are free of the wind and I can really see their shape, I can select the ones I really want. It is in this stillness that I can make a better choice.
I'd rather collect the leaves once I know what they really are. Just the ones that are right for me. All the others can be taken by some other leaf seeker. The rest of the leaves can just rest on the ground, untouched. I can't possibly take them all; I'd spend my whole life collecting and never doing.
Once I've collected my leaves, I think it's best to consider something safe to put them in. Nothing where they will get crushed or lost. Perhaps a journal, on whose pages I can flatten their delicate shapes, so they may remain fully intact. Then I can take these leaves home, and enjoy the choices I've made. It's not just the leaves themselves that really matter. There are so many leaves in one life and so many are beautiful. What really matters is how you collect them, and what you do with them once they are yours.