Today, I felt autumn all around me as I walked with my dogs and baby around my neighborhood. Leaves now line the gutters and skip down the road with the brisk wind. With a chill in the air and a cloudy sky, every part of me rejoiced in the changes of nature at this time of year. And then immediately after my joyful moment, several memories came to my mind.
My mind thought of Utah, where I went to school, and the beauty of the changing colors on the mountains and canyons. I also thought of and felt Ireland in the chilly air. I went there three years ago with my younger sister and it was the epitome of a chilly, windy, and cozy fall adventure. And then last year I went to Asheville, NC with my husband to see the beautiful changing leaves of the Blue Ridge mountains. These are just physical places that came to my mind, but my thoughts go deeper as I contemplate how those places made me feel and my experiences there.
Cliffs of Moher, Ireland. 2012.
Yoga in nature at the bottom of a waterfall. Asheville, NC. 2014.
I think fall is a perfect time of year to reflect on the past and prepare for the future as a new year draws closer. With nature physically slowing down and there being less light, it’s as if mother earth is telling us to slow down and reflect on life. I love this season, I love how it makes me think and feel, and I am grateful that God created this beautiful world for us to enjoy.
I encourage you to take time and space to breathe in the new season of nature and maybe a new season in your life. I know I am. My new season is mothering a new baby and learning this role as his caretaker. It’s a glorious time in my life and I’m glad I have this time of year—autumn—to again accompany me through what will be another special time to remember.
What memories does autumn hold for you? Good? Bad? Is there another season you feel connected to or that brings back memories?