Cha-cha-cha-cha Changes...

The first day of September. Time really does clip along at a pace far too speedy, in my opinion. And here it is, September 1. Summer is over. Well, okay, summer isn’t actually over until the Autumnal Equinox on September 23. But in my seasonal worldview; autumn has arrived.

While summer is most decidedly my favorite season, I do love autumn. But then, I also love winter and spring so, perhaps I’m just a little bit fickle. I’m fairly committed to attending to the things in each season that bring me joy. A lot of people say they love autumn because of the cooler, crisp days, lovely color spectrum of the trees, homey stews, and cozy sweaters. I’m pretty much just a fan of the word - autumn. I find it difficult to replace such a lovely and melodic word as autumn with ‘fall.’

But then I am also a person who has a list of favorite words. I might be a tiny bit anal retentive about language. My favorite word list is categorized. Some words are on to the list because they sound pretty. Some because they look attractive on a page. And still others because of their definition. Autumn fits nicely into all three categories. It is such a pretty word. Don’t even get me started on its fabulously inspiring counterpart, autumnal.

Words aside, some years I have lamented the first day of September. Not quite ready to let go, I’ve clung to the notion that I could squeeze a few more weeks out of summer. But, of course, the consequence is that I shorten autumn and then end up feeling cheated in December when suddenly it is winter and I haven’t fully appreciated the glories of autumn.

It can get a little complicated in my world.

This year, however, I feel as though I have fully engaged summer. I’ve been very intentional about enjoying it and appreciating it and not letting it fill up with activity. Consequently, I feel ready to embrace autumn.

The change of planetary seasons is a kind and gentle reminder to savor the seasons of one’s life as well. This year I do so with quiet and somewhat melancholy celebration. It is no coincidence that my mother’s failing health reminds me of the brevity of life and the need to savor and enjoy the days I am given.

Several years ago I lived in Southern California. There were lots of things to love about living there. Not the traffic, mind you. I did not enjoy the traffic. Nor the smog. That wasn’t so great either. And I really didn’t like the earthquakes. But… I had great friends and a fun job and there was always something interesting to do. What troubled my soul, however, was the lack of seasonal change.

To be fair, there are seasonal changes in Southern California. But unless you are very aware of them and really take the time to notice the changes, they are easy to miss. The temperature alterations are slight and the lack of deciduous trees blotted out the obvious reminders of autumn. As a consequence, the changing seasons blurred into one another. As did the years. I found myself longing for more intentional reminders of the passing of seasons. Moving to Colorado, I was able to, once again, experience the shift from one season to another.

Of course, the seasonal changes in Colorado can be a bit overzealous. We could just as easily get snow tomorrow as 90 degree temperatures. Colorado weather can, at times, provide its own reenactment of the Mary Jane Holmes story, Tempest and Sunshine. Regardless, there are definite seasonal changes and decided reminders that life moves quickly. How we live out each day is up to us.

How easy it is to get caught up in the busyness of the moment. How easy to forget to find joy in the little things. I’m always thrilled when I remember to notice something that makes me smile. Or, even to notice the things that tug at my heart. They are reminders that I am alive. And more and more I am reminded that life is short. It is up to me to live joyfully and mindfully.

So, on this first day of September, I choose to notice the subtle ways autumn is creeping in. By way of celebration, maybe I’ll make an apple crisp and make a party out of September 1.

After all, the way life seems to work is that we typically get a party when we arrive and a party when we leave. The rest of the time, the party is up to us.