My Favorite Season

I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air.-- Nathaniel Hawthorne

I think Hawthorne got it right when he insisted on taking advantage of the glory of the Fall season. As we quickly approach the dreary winter months, there are just a few weeks of blissful, perfect, beautiful weather here in the Midwest, and I intend to soak up as much of them as possible. Now, I won't get to spend all the waking hours outdoors (unless you consider a windowless office with fluorescent lighting a comparable substitute), but I will definitely find opportunities to participate in outdoor activities and immerse myself in the splendor of Autumn. I can already feel the air turning brisk, and I can smell the purity of this season that begins a deep cleansing process before the quiet of Winter and the regrowth of Spring. I always find clarity and focus in the Fall. Mind, body, and spirit seem to align and become refreshed, and I am energized.

Perhaps it is because the frantic pace of my job slows down in the Fall, and I can exhale. Perhaps it is because I reminisce about when Fall used to mean a new school year and the anticipation of new challenges. Perhaps it is because Fall directly precedes the holiday season when everything and everyone relaxes and family and friends rightfully become more important than the daily grind. Whatever the reason, Fall has always been my favorite season. I can't wait to inhale the crisp air, break out my sweatshirts, go to a football game, and enjoy a campfire or two. I eagerly await the vibrant foliage. I look forward to the promise of another blessed year.