I grew up in the desert of Arizona and back then excitement for fall was more about a relief from the heat and the thrill of Trick or Treating come Halloween. The Four Seasons were something I only got to experience by reading about them in school as Arizona doesn’t have much to offer as it relates to Fall.
I have changed so much since I have moved away from Arizona and perhaps the changing of the seasons in Tennessee reflects that. In many ways, every time Fall approaches and the leaves begin to turn I feel like I take it all in through the eyes of my inner child. I get excited at the thought of kicking around leaves, cozy sweaters, soft blankets and the cool breeze that has a way of breathing new life into you, simultaneously making you want to cry tears of gratitude. Those are little things I appreciate for myself along with my obligatory pumpkin spiced cold brew.
Now as a mother, it fills me with even more excitement to not only get to feel my own rush but to witness the energy that my children feel through this season as well.
What is it that makes Fall so special?
Why is it that this season brings a flush of change, inspiration, joy and overall sense of comfort?
I find it curious that pumpkins are such a strong symbol of PLENTY, especially because Fall tends to highlight the feeling of gratitude and abundance with us. Its particularly fascinating that these multi-colored pumpkin beauties become natural magnets for our creativity and fun. I think to myself, that maybe we are so attracted to pumpkins and surround ourselves with them as a reflection how how abundant we feel. The pumpkin seeds themselves as a promise of more prosperity and harvest to be sown and reaped. With every pumpkin stand or patch we see the kids light up and would bring them all home if they could. There is adventure in the drive to the local pumpkin patch and the well thought out selection of the perfect pumpkin. The beauty of trying to capture the perfect picture of all the kids and inevitability that someone won’t sit still to take said picture.
The memories that are created during this time of year are nothing short of treasures.
I think it’s easy for us to get caught up in the beauty of fall and in doing so can lose sight of the message fall has to offer us. A message that I believe speaks to our ability to commit and growing though our work in the seasons of pressure, stress and heat to see ourselves reach maturity. A pumpkin, is only grown to its size and harvested due to the careful planning of the farmer who saw to it that their garden received proper sunlight and water. This pumpkin even after meeting its purpose whether that be a pie, a jack o lantern or decor will still share its abundance through its seeds, one fruit has the power to multiply well beyond one season, one use, one year even.
If we’re present enough to observe the symbolism for more than just its colors and beauty, what lessons can we learn about ourselves and the world we live in? Going deeper than that, what can we learn that we can teach our children that will go much further than one nights activity or costume?
Ultimately, what we all have to learn here is that this feeling that we feel during this season is something that can be grown and expanded. We don’t have to wait until Fall to have a sense of fulfillment, abundance or prosperity. These feelings exist within us and can be called upon at our will, we don’t have to wait until a Fall to get back up. That’s my learned lesson this season.
