I noticed a difference five days ago. We were out on our typical 7:00 a.m. walk through Wendy Park. As Robert, Kippers, and I padded on the wood chipped ground under the mighty oaks, leaves crunched beneath us. Up onto the soft grassy tier of the park, our feet (and paws!) absorbed the morning dew leaving them cold and wet. Thick white fog was just lifting, partially obscuring our view of the blue Boney Mountain backdrop. Earthy scents mingled with the fresh air, relaxing and exciting me at the same time. Although I was wearing a baseball cap, my ears registered the coolness and my ungloved fingers felt chilled. A breeze brushed my face, pinkening my cheeks. Twenty-five minutes later when we crossed the threshold at our front door, the warmth and smell of freshly brewed coffee welcomed us back in. This is when I realized…autumn had officially arrived.
We live in Southern California, so we don’t experience the dramatic change of seasons I grew up knowing. Back East it seemed as if one minute we were waving hot sticky summer good-bye and the next we were greeted by a cold dry fall embrace. Not that I ever minded. Whenever autumn makes its appearance, and wherever I am, I am ready. It’s the time of year I feel my best. I simply feel more alive!
From my journal: September 24, 2021, Newbury Park, California
“Yay! The weather has changed…I can breathe again. Ready to take on new projects…”
This sensation of being rejuvenated is not unique to me. As a matter of fact, doctors report that the reason has to do with our endorphins. When it is colder, our bodies have to work harder and our brain and nervous system hormone production increases, boosting our moods and leaving us in a cheerful state of mind. Oh happy days!
Not only do I feel better, but I’m also motivated to do more. And doing more first begins outside. Walking and hiking in cooler temperatures is invigorating and always helps me up my daily step count. Preparing garden beds for planting brings the satisfaction that comes with sowing seeds and tending to them until they grow and mature, and are ripe enough to eat. Then there’s the coziness of sitting in our backyard around the fireplace in comfy chairs, blankets draped across our laps, being warmed by the glowing orange embers.
Doing more also extends to inside activities. Like spring, fall is another of my favorite times to purge. We started a clean-out project recently and our ambitious aim is to clear the attic, garage, and shed in just a few weeks. Donating and selling items we no longer need or want will give us literally more room to breathe, and the recipients will be able to give these items new life and purpose.
Cooking and baking are high on my Fun-Filled Fall List, too. Soups, muffins, and pies, oh my! Nothing can beat a butternut squash soup slowly simmering on the stove, or veggie stew bubbling in the crockpot filling every room with happy homey aromas. And the scent of ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg baking in pumpkin muffins, banana bread, and apple pies, always brings a smile to my face…even if the goods don’t turn out as tasty as they smell!
Another thing I love about this season is that I sleep deeper and wake up more refreshed. Because sunset is earlier, and sunrise is later, our bodies’ circadian rhythms change. And with cooler temperatures we are sent to La-La Land sooner and tend to sleep more soundly. Zzzz!
Autumn is the perfect time for me to reset, refresh, and reawaken to all the goodness in my life. It brings me so much joy as I anticipate all there is to look forward to. Not only the ventures this season inspires, but the holidays that lie ahead with the promise of gatherings with our family and friends. Ah…this uplifting time of year always has me falling for fall, and enjoying the wonder of it all!
A Journal Journey 