Cozy and connected

This year, as we passed the autumnal equinox, right on cue the season shifted from summer to fall. Temperatures cooled and leaves began changing colors as the days gradually became shorter. Winter may be around the corner, but fall is here now, in all its glory. 

It’s a time of transition and a time to embrace the changes we can see all around, as the natural world prepares for the coming season with birds migrating overhead, squirrels busily hiding their acorns and a new crispness in the air around us. This is a great time to lean into the cozy — the colorful leaves, warm sweaters and hot drinks — while finding comfort, connection and joy in the present moment. 

If you’ve taken a summer break, it’s the time when you return to a more structured routine, which can make it easier to meet up with friends and socialize. Whether it’s a walk in the park or a dinner out, apple picking or some other adventure, it’s a great time to connect with friends and family. For now, we beat the heat and the weather is comfortable enough to spend long stretches of time outdoors. 

For many, fall can also feel like a fresh start, a time we associate with the beginning of a new school year. That makes it the perfect time to take stock of what you have been doing, determine if there are things you’d like to do differently and habits you’d like to shed. Perhaps there are some new activities you’d like to embark on or new challenges you’d like to tackle. Let the seasonal changes happening all around help motivate you to set goals, establish routines and look forward to mapping out what comes next.

Fall also presents a great opportunity to find inner calm and mindfulness as you reconnect with the natural world. Try noticing what you see around you, such as the fluttering, sun-dappled leaves. Then take note of what you feel: the coolness of the breeze, the earth beneath your feet. Listen to the sounds you hear, such as birdsong, the jingle of an ice-cream truck, kids’ laughter. Notice how you feel afterwards and if you can carry that feeling of peacefulness and being grounded with you throughout your day. 

While fall traditions like Halloween and Thanksgiving are on the horizon, you can always create your own traditions, too. Just getting together with family in a stress-free environment, watching a movie with friends or simply enjoying the comforts of home while diving into a book you love are all part of the joy of the season. Fall is fleeting, it’s beautiful, and it provides a perfect opportunity to savor the simple joys that make us appreciate the present moment.

“Autumn is a second spring, when every leaf is a flower.”

                                                                                      — Albert Camus