A Story Of Autumn

“Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love – that makes life and nature harmonise. The birds are consulting about their migrations, the trees are putting on the hectic or the pallid hues of decay, and begin to strew the ground, that one’s very footsteps may not disturb the repose of earth and air, while they give us a scent that is a perfect anodyne to the restless spirit. Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” 
― George Eliot

Boy it is getting colder in my part of the world. Summer has quickly turned into autumn, and I have celebrated the crispness in the air by taking out my old faves: Blankets, sweaters, comfy pajama’s, and my favorite soft socks.  I pulled out the candles, the incence and the baking pans!  I am in adoration with the Fall, and I am ready to celebrate it’s arrival.

Are you?

Although, I am not a lover of the «heat» of summer, I do love the flowers, the gardens, and the warm rain when it falls. For me, every season has it charms, but I must admit. I am an Autumn/Winter girl. There’s an aura of romance in the Fall. The air is clean and crisp tempting me to snuggle with my dog or favorite jettée. I love breathing in deep, and smelling the hint of fire while walking outside. I can imagine a family all coszied up by their fireplace.

This season just brings me back home.

I was born in the fall, 2 days after Halloween. I guess the excitement and anticipation of the Season adds to my love of this time of the year, as I have plenty of reasons to celebrate, and who doesn’t love candy on Hallow’s Eve?

More and more, I am discovering Autumn’s beauty in detail. Being aware and mindful allows me to appreciate fall’s exquisite canvas  - the richness of the colors painted by nature, the vibrance of the trees, the scurrying of the squirrels, and the abundance Autumn brings.

As my love to cook dwindles over the summer, I find it difficult to put away the crock pot now. All I want to do is make soups, and hot dishes full of this year’s harvest. I love shopping for fresh carrots, onions and potatoes. I even bought my first pumpkin of the season.

Baking with my children is always a pleasure. As we connect through sharing ideas, and I passing on our favorite recipes for them to use when they have families. I can see my daughter’s face when she pulls out my old cookbook full of papers and recipes I shoved in there. It looks like my face did when I rummaged through my mom’s recipes. To her, these are tradition, and tradition to me, is one of those ties which holds family legacy together.

What joy!

“Let whoever wants to, relax in the south,
And bask in the garden of paradise.
Here is the essence of north—and it’s autumn
I’ve chosen as this year’s friend.”
― Anna Akhmatova, The Complete Poems

This year, I feel Autumn’s presence more than ever. This is great news as I can really be mindful throughout it all. Taking in every breath, fallen leaf, and savoring each morsel of comfort is brings to me.  I know, as darkness falls, I tend to cocoon and shy away from the world. This has been a habit of mine for as long as I can remember. I find comfort in melancholy. The tone of the season, has become somewhat of a friend I can count on.

As recently as yesterday, as I feel my friend packing for its arrival. I plan on allowing it to come, but by invitation only. It may not stay over night (only on cold nights) as melancholy has its place in my life. It may come and go, but I will tell it to keep its toothbrush out of my bathroom. It can cry with me, and keep me company, yet it may not invade my space. I have set clear boundaries with my friends melancholy, nostalgia and depression.

It is now time for me to have a say!

It is ok, to feel comfort in the old, yet the new richer more powerful me is here now. And she wants to stay fierce, brave, vulnerable and vibrant like the color of the leaves.

And as the leaves, fall, she (me) will not fall.

As the leaves hover over the soil.

She (me) will take root.

As the leaves disappear under the snow…

She will remain atop.. lovingly playing with the crystals of white.

No more dying, like the leaves, and if I do, for a short while..

Spring can arrive at any time during the year.. as our spirits are not earthbound to time and space..

The are bound to us… and we are all connected.

Happy Autumn!!

“Autumn is my spring!” 
― August Strindberg, A Dream Play

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