As a native of Florida, I never grew up with true seasons. Now as a Midwesterner, living in the burbs of Chicago, as the first autumn chill hits the air I am always “cold!” The past five years of living here, as soon as it gets chilly I immediately start to think, “oh dear, it will be winter soon!”…..But what about FALL?
When I think about the seasons, usually I think about Spring as a time of renewal. The trees start to come to life, greening up and forming their leaves. The birds start to sing and the bulbs emerge to delight us for what is ahead. You can feel it within yourself, a renewal of life and a time to start anew. With Summer, I think of a time to enjoy what life has brought forth to us: picnics with family, vacations, boat rides, swimming, grill outs and fireworks!
As Summer draws to a close the harvest moon rises, the chill hits the air and the days get shorter; I feel those days slowly slipping away from me. And here I go again, “oh dear, it will be winter soon!” But wait there is FALL!
What has fall come to symbolize for me? In the past, just as nature prepares for winter as I have I. The leaves are changing and falling, squirrels are gathering nuts, birds are starting to migrate. It’s come to symbolize a time of preparation and I have forgotten to stop and smell sedums 🙂 (for non-gardeners sedums are a beautiful flower with gorgeous fall color)! I have forgotten to live in the present as I have in Spring and Summer.
Since we have come to live in our new socially distanced lives, I have done a lot of self reflection as I am sure most of you have done. This fall as I am looking around, I am seeing fall from a completely different perspective.
As I look outside and see the colorful leaves on the ground, I can relate this to shedding my own fears or things that don’t serve me in my life anymore. I see the abundance of the harvest moon, enjoying the pumpkins, corn, apples, carrots, brussels sprouts, etc. And as I look at the squirrels gathering nuts, I can relate this to me gathering the new and old parts of myself so as I don’t lose them, appreciating each one as it is gathered.
Now, I am seeing this autumn season as a time to FALL in love with myself appreciating each part of my nutty self! Bonfires, long walks enjoying the color changes, football, hayrides, pumpkin carving….here I come! I can’t wait to enjoy this season bundled up of course!