I love fall. I love the crisp air, the brilliant colors, the sweaters coming out of the closet, and that first moment when you realize the season has truly changed. There is something about autumn that makes me want to slow down, cook something warm, light a candle, and pay attention. And yet, somewhere underneath all that beauty is a tiny voice reminding me of what comes next. Winter. The cold. The darkness. The bare trees. The months when spring feels very far away.
How often do we do this? We stand in the middle of something beautiful while simultaneously anticipating its ending. Instead of simply loving the leaves, we’re already thinking about when they’ll fall. Maybe the harmony isn’t in learning to love winter as much as I love fall. Maybe it’s in allowing myself to love this season without asking it to stay, and without letting what comes next steal any of what is here now. Fall reminds me that beauty doesn’t have to last forever to be fully enjoyed. Perhaps that’s part of living an examined life too: noticing when tomorrow is taking us away from today and gently returning ourselves to what is right in front of us.
Question for Reflection: What are you enjoying right now that you might love a little more fully if you stopped worrying about what comes next?