It’s Fall Y’all: Finding Gratitude In It All

Friend,

I learned something a few years back when moved from sunny southern California to Tennessee. There is something called a Season! About every four months or so, the weather and nature goes through a pivotal change for its own health. It’s special, and I love it! I’m also keenly aware there are many who experience “real seasons” in the Northern United States who laugh at the 1-3” of snow we get excited about each year.

Part of me loves the change of season because I tend to thrive and get energized with rapidly moving parts. I know not everyone is this way and as I grow, I see the value that structure and consistency brings and we are working develop that balance safely in our home.

The season we find ourselves in right now is called Autumn, but I’m not as proper, so I call it “Fall”. Though the leaves already died and fell in a record time because of the Summer drought, the cooler weather is coming back soon! (Looks outside at the sunny 80*F/26*C day we are having. As they around here, “if you don’t like the weather, wait fifteen minutes!”)

Once Fall arrives, we will slowly add more layers of clothing and enjoy every bit of it. And in a few months, Winter will come with cold air and grey skies and there’s nothing in my power to stop it from taking place.

With the seasons changing, so do various aspects of our life: Such as the amount of sunlight hours available to us each day to accomplish our roles and chores. Our animals and children have different needs in this Fall Season, too. Our hands don’t harvest food from the garden as often, but they harvest different things like deep conversations with friends and meaningful relationships. Soon, these hands will chop more wood. They will clean up more, they will cook larger meals for larger gatherings. We spend more time reflecting on the year, looking back at what we are thankful for.

You know what? I love it. I love what the change of seasons brings because there’s always a beautiful reminder of past memories. And we need that in our lives. Reflection. Pausing. Remembering. Preparing.

In the spirit of slowing down, I’d like you to ponder some questions (consider answering in your journal, even):

WHAT SEASON ARE YOU SLOWING DOWN FROM AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN WHILE IN IT?
WHAT HABITS DID YOU FORM IN THE SPEED OF SUMMER THAT YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN, HALT, OR LET GO OF?
CAN YOU NAME THREE THINGS YOU ARE THANKFUL FOR?
IS THERE AN ACTIVITY THIS FALL YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST?

I hope you spend some time reflecting this week and finding gratitude in the breathing and processing the season you are coming out of. You are loved!!

Your Friend, Phil Congelliere