Monday Musings: Fall

For the past few weeks, I have been thinking a ton about fall. Many people love fall–I am included–but many others feel the need to shame us for openly enjoying this time of year so much.

Honestly, I don't understand why some people are calling fall a "white girl season" or telling others that they are "basic" for loving it–excuse me, but in the words of Ted Mosby: "How dare you... And what is that?" I get that people can go overboard with seasonal items. There are definitely days in which I see, taste, and smell the overuse of pumpkin spice everything–seriously, someone please tell me why there is such a thing as pumpkin spice salmon! (No, really, tell me.) However, if cozy blankets, PSLs, or oversized sweaters with leggings help someone take a breath and enjoy the moment, please let them.

If you love fall, that's okay by me. I'll share. If spring speaks to you, cool, what does it say? If you live for summer, awesome, someone has to! If winter is your heart song, tell me all about it.

Listen. Fall speaks to my soul.

That chill in the air makes me want to linger. My whole body feels a need to take a deep breath, as if I have been holding on to my last breath for months. I deeply desire to create moments in which I can breathe in and soak up the experiences:

• I want to make time to sit outside and swing with a blanket and a warm beverage while I read or knit.
• When I am driving through the color-changing trees, I feel a pull to keep going–to get lost finding new magical places I have never been before. To have an unplanned adventure.
• The smells of cinnamon and cloves make me want to make endless pastries and invite people over to enjoy them.
• As the temperature cools, I lean into the family and friends around me for hugs and snuggles–physical closeness.

Life is fast, busy, hard, and heavy–especially as a mom of three. I have found that I actually need the visual and tangible changes that come with fall. Those markers remind me to slow down, and without them, I burn out.

Maybe someone else out there is like me. Perhaps your friend on Facebook is sharing a picture of more than just their pretty PSL. The twelfth fall foliage photo they shared this week might be giving them life; enjoy that they found the time to catch a moment.