The Lessons of Fall…
Leaves changing on the mountains by Molas Pass, CO (between Silverton and Durango).
As I drove over Red Mountain Pass this past weekend, the Aspen trees painted a breathtaking picture with their bright yellow and orange leaves against the dark green of the evergreen trees and the red and gray rock of the mountains. The sagebrush and other bushes were turning orange and red, adding to the vibrant canvas of nature. As predicted by the weather experts, the extensive rain we had this summer enhanced the intensity of the color changes. I thought leaves’ changing colors would stop impressing me once I left the Northeast, the proclaimed epicenter of epic fall leaves. But here I am, still in awe, still wowed by the beauty of fall.
The changing of the season is upon us once again. These seasonal shifts have been so grounding for me lately. I've previously shared my thoughts on the cyclical nature of the seasons and how we are also cyclical creatures, human beings. And yet, it still brings a humbled peace into my soul.
Growing up, I proudly HATED fall. Summer was my season. I also enjoyed spring because summer was after spring. But fall? Nope….I didn't like fall because, at the time, I didn't appreciate winter. And fall was the precursor to winter, so I held a grudge. My birthday was in the summer. I loved the beach, the sand, the salt water, and the sun. I loved the warmth on my skin and the long days. I was free in the summer, with school on break. Even when I had to get a part-time job as a teenager, since the days were long, I could enjoy working and having fun into the wee hours of the night.
However, I don't remember when the shift happened, but I now love fall. It might be my favorite season. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy a lovely summer day and night. But fall no longer feels like a transition away from something but rather a transition to something completely different. It feels cleansing. It feels like letting go. Where spring is about rebirth and starting a new, fall is about honoring what was, slowing down, gratitude, and comfort. It helps that I have learned to love winter in a way I never could understand when I was younger. There is beauty in the contrast of the stark cold, hard terrain, and soft white snowfall. It also helps that I found winter activities I love.
As for fall…there is a beauty in it that you can't find in any other part of the year. That subtle shift when the days are warm, but the nights start to hint at the upcoming briskness. It's almost as if nature is releasing or letting go of the hot energy of productivity and easing us into a rejuvenating resting period. The season starts bright and green, shifting into a delightful color show as nature's last hurrah before settling into winter slumber—one last way to show off its magic. Where spring is new, young, and full of anticipation, fall is the love and honor of the mature and the freedom of ending a chapter. Fall is about slowing down and absorbing the fragility of beauty.
The fall season is when we celebrate gratitude, community, and gathering. We still plan and dream of things to come but at a slower pace and more ease. We scramble around to take in nature's color show before the fleeting moment peaks and the leaves come to rest on the ground. We get outside to take advantage of the last remnants of warm, sunny days. We welcome the brisk mornings and evenings, where we might stand around a warming fire pit or start a brief fire in a fireplace.
I have found myself moving a little slower in the mornings and calling it an evening a little earlier than a few weeks ago. I watched the last of my hummingbirds visit my feeder as they moved off on their southern migration. I miss their chatty visits, yet I am in awe of how they know just when to move on. Sometimes, I wish I could lean into my intuition with as much confidence.
Noticing nature has helped me through these seasonal transitions. It helps me see it as a cycle, with each season having its unique knowledge. I see this in action as I observe nature around me. With the rutting season upon us, the moose, elk, and mule deer are active. They are not worried about us witnessing their foraging and activities. There are lots of sounds and evidence of the local bears gathering as much as possible in the next few weeks before hibernating.
There is also a fun anticipation (for some, stress for others, I am sure) of the upcoming holiday season. Halloween kicks it all off, and I live for the kickoff!!! I find other traditions or rituals worth honoring, although one might feel they are mundane. For example, turning off the central air or air conditioning and seeing how long you can go before turning on the heat is a fun little competitive routine I enjoy engaging in this time of year. I love opening the windows and letting in some brisk fresh air. I enjoy doing some fall cleaning. This is where I clean up the clutter that has built up, like purging my closets and giving away what is no longer needed. I enjoy the abundant fruits and vegetables specific to this time of year. I like baking bread, making soups, or more hardy food options. I change where things are in my closet to make the warmer options more accessible. I do love sweater weather. While I am not necessarily one of those pumpkin-spice-in-everythingperson, I enjoy the shift in smells from fresh-cut grass and barbeque to apple pie, pumpkin, cloves, and newly fallen leaves.
With its unique beauty and transformative energy, fall is a great time to work on stopping old habits or patterns that are no longer working, to let go of old baggage, and to release old trauma. It's also a supportive time to start a new, healthier lifestyle. Whether it's practicing slowing down and being more in the moment, hiring a coach or therapist, or finally starting that new hobby you've been talking about, fall encourages personal growth and development. Embrace the seasonal transitions, for they hold the key to your personal evolution.
In my world, observing the seasonal shifts supports me in making shifts in my life. I crave to have less on my calendar as I want more deliberate transitions throughout the day. I am ready to let go of some things that no longer serve me in my life. I am nesting more, preparing for the upcoming long winter, and some cozy downtime the winter mountain weather forces us to endure. This year, I am actively choosing to honor and relish in the tradition of it all. May I use this time to nourish my heart and soul! May I find peace in letting go! This may help me as I prepare to move into the fall stage of my life as a human being. I am not quite ready to step into that stage of my life just yet, but practicing each year when the fall season approaches will build my capacity to accept my own aging and grounding back into the cycle of living as a human being.
