“Death is the secret to life. All living things know this.” The ultimate optimist challenge!! Confronting death and by doing so embracing life. Come come, sweet Death, so that I may feel alive.
Ha thank you Dad. There is a funny paradox how death makes life come alive. Without death, would life feel... lifeless? Appreciate you reading & your words here, as always
Another great essay. I love the image of a lip stick stained leaf. Autumn is my favorite time of year. I love the crisp air and colorful leaves. I never understood New Years celebrations. I always thought the new year should be celebrated on the first day of spring.
Thanks J (: Like you, I think autumn and spring are the most poetic and perhaps signifigant times of the year, one where things come to die and one where things come to life.
I like to poke fun at New Years, and I do think the modern celebration has become quite estranged from its origins, but it is earnest in its intent, to start new and be better.
I have fond memories of the autumns in the Midwest with such beautiful colors and the chill in the air. My favorite line: “…I’m led to contemplate what needs to die in my life. What I need to let go of, to make room for something beautiful and new.” Although it will be warm here in Florida, I will take time to examine my life and see what changes I can implement.
Thank you for reading & sharing a beautiful reflection here, Monica. Perhaps autumn as an experience is best remembered anyways. Hope your Florida Fall is lovely (:
My smile kept getting bigger and bigger the more I read. Love this essay so much, happy to find another kindred spirit who appreciates fall as much as I do.
And thanks for my new-found appreciation for Canadian seasons. I never really thought about how incredible it is how our plants and trees die and are reborn every year. What a gift it is to bear witness to it.
This was so beautiful, Tommy. Reading your posts always brings me a sense of calmness, sort of like the feeling I get from the seasons changing to Fall. I think one of the reasons I love Fall weather so much is because it feels like an allowance to slow down. Take long strolls, wear comfy clothes, bake cookies and make hot chocolate on the stove (I refuse to make it in the microwave ever since I learned you could do it this way).
Also, that last photo of yours is stunning, thanks for sharing it :))
Thanks Rachel (: I love the connection between Fall & slowing down. Certainly life outside seems to slow down, animals hunker down and prepare to hibernate. I think that's one of the beautiful things about attempting to live seasonally, you fall into the natural rhythms of the world that are always sort of waiting there for you.
Beautiful essay. As a native Californian accustomed to perpetual summers and only imagining the brisk changes of fall, this quote reminded me why I long for the four distinct seasons: "It's easy to bemoan the end of summer, but I wouldn't want another four months. Life would begin to feel too airy and weightless, as if it could just float and drift away."
Ha thank you Anna (: appreciate you reading & the kind words. There is something grounding about each change in season, marking chapters of your year, but winter brings its own set of difficulties. Hope you have a lovely California Fall
Thank you James (: As of late, I've been thinking a lot about what I need to let go of, let die. Both parts of myself, beliefs, relationships I've been holding onto for too long, etc.
…real fall is one of my favorite vibes…everything just hits you with a wind of mysterious possibilities and changes…plus the beauty of decay and need for layers…is there anywhere on earth where it is fall forever?…
Haha thank you CansaFis (: "a wind of mysterious possibilities and changes" is exactly right. There's something mystical about the change in the air that comes about, hinting at what new change it may bring. Layers are also a vibe.
Thank you for these beautiful reflections. The fall has always felt like the start of a new year to me, and not just because of my birthday or the return to school. In Judaism, the New Year (Rosh Hashanah) falls in September or October, aligning with this autumnal sense of renewal.
I've often wondered why our new year would be in the fall, at the end of the harvest, when many other traditions celebrate it around the winter solstice or spring equinox. I recently came across a passage:
"At springtime, it may have been normal to celebrate the beginning of fertility and to pray for its extension over the coming year, but it was only in the autumn, at the end of the harvest, that the population knew whether their prayers had been answered. So that was the time to celebrate, to start the New Year, to be grateful and thank God for His blessings. It was a lesson that the Israelites learned from their time in Egypt."
I like that...it makes me realize how reverential the Jewish faith is for gifts received. What a meaningful way to begin the year - with gratitude for blessings already bestowed, rather than just hopes for future ones.
Thank you Max, for reading and writing such an insightful reflection here. Love it.
I knew about Rosh Hashanah but somehow didn't connect it to this idea of Fall being the New Year when writing this piece. But that's so interesting, Fall being a time of harvest, of blessings received. Reaping what you've sown as the time to recap and reflect and be grateful. Beautiful
I also boycott both Halloween and Valentines, for reasons similar to yours and some I hope to expand on and share soon, because these festivities are silly. I adore this time of year, with My birth and husbands being in Autumn, as well as the obligation to be in the heat coming to a close. It’s always fun, in the Spring, but Summer seems to drag on infinitely, and at least now I can go back to enjoying being outside, crunching leaves and watching my kids throw them in the air.
Hahaha thank you Amani for reading and leaving such a beautiful reflection. I found the beginnings of these festivities, like almost all festivities, are pure in nature but, like many things in the modern world, have become confused and estranged from their origins.
I was talking to my brother yesterday about childhood memories of jumping into piles of leaves, the crispness in the air. A lovely time of year.
“Death is the secret to life. All living things know this.” The ultimate optimist challenge!! Confronting death and by doing so embracing life. Come come, sweet Death, so that I may feel alive.
Ha thank you Dad. There is a funny paradox how death makes life come alive. Without death, would life feel... lifeless? Appreciate you reading & your words here, as always
Another great essay. I love the image of a lip stick stained leaf. Autumn is my favorite time of year. I love the crisp air and colorful leaves. I never understood New Years celebrations. I always thought the new year should be celebrated on the first day of spring.
Thanks J (: Like you, I think autumn and spring are the most poetic and perhaps signifigant times of the year, one where things come to die and one where things come to life.
I like to poke fun at New Years, and I do think the modern celebration has become quite estranged from its origins, but it is earnest in its intent, to start new and be better.
Appreciate you reading & being here
I have fond memories of the autumns in the Midwest with such beautiful colors and the chill in the air. My favorite line: “…I’m led to contemplate what needs to die in my life. What I need to let go of, to make room for something beautiful and new.” Although it will be warm here in Florida, I will take time to examine my life and see what changes I can implement.
Thank you for reading & sharing a beautiful reflection here, Monica. Perhaps autumn as an experience is best remembered anyways. Hope your Florida Fall is lovely (:
My smile kept getting bigger and bigger the more I read. Love this essay so much, happy to find another kindred spirit who appreciates fall as much as I do.
Ha thank you Chris, reading this brought a big smile to my face. Appreciate you reading & taking the time to share a few kind words (:
And thanks for my new-found appreciation for Canadian seasons. I never really thought about how incredible it is how our plants and trees die and are reborn every year. What a gift it is to bear witness to it.
This was so beautiful, Tommy. Reading your posts always brings me a sense of calmness, sort of like the feeling I get from the seasons changing to Fall. I think one of the reasons I love Fall weather so much is because it feels like an allowance to slow down. Take long strolls, wear comfy clothes, bake cookies and make hot chocolate on the stove (I refuse to make it in the microwave ever since I learned you could do it this way).
Also, that last photo of yours is stunning, thanks for sharing it :))
Your friend,
Rachel
Thanks Rachel (: I love the connection between Fall & slowing down. Certainly life outside seems to slow down, animals hunker down and prepare to hibernate. I think that's one of the beautiful things about attempting to live seasonally, you fall into the natural rhythms of the world that are always sort of waiting there for you.
Beautiful essay. As a native Californian accustomed to perpetual summers and only imagining the brisk changes of fall, this quote reminded me why I long for the four distinct seasons: "It's easy to bemoan the end of summer, but I wouldn't want another four months. Life would begin to feel too airy and weightless, as if it could just float and drift away."
Ha thank you Anna (: appreciate you reading & the kind words. There is something grounding about each change in season, marking chapters of your year, but winter brings its own set of difficulties. Hope you have a lovely California Fall
“I'm led to contemplate what needs to die in my life. What I need to let go of, to make room for something beautiful and new.”
Going to let the profundity of that just sit.
Thank you James (: As of late, I've been thinking a lot about what I need to let go of, let die. Both parts of myself, beliefs, relationships I've been holding onto for too long, etc.
Appreciate you reading and being here
adored this and adore your writing!
Thank you Valentina (: appreciate you reading
Beautiful! I can't wait for the cool breezes of Fall. In North Louisiana, it's going to be a while yet, though.
Thank you John, I appreciate you reading & taking time to leave some kind words.
There certainly is something crisp and clarifying about the cold, whenever it finds its way to you. Hope your Fall in Louisiana is lovely (:
…real fall is one of my favorite vibes…everything just hits you with a wind of mysterious possibilities and changes…plus the beauty of decay and need for layers…is there anywhere on earth where it is fall forever?…
Haha thank you CansaFis (: "a wind of mysterious possibilities and changes" is exactly right. There's something mystical about the change in the air that comes about, hinting at what new change it may bring. Layers are also a vibe.
Appreciate you reading & being here my friend
Thank you for these beautiful reflections. The fall has always felt like the start of a new year to me, and not just because of my birthday or the return to school. In Judaism, the New Year (Rosh Hashanah) falls in September or October, aligning with this autumnal sense of renewal.
I've often wondered why our new year would be in the fall, at the end of the harvest, when many other traditions celebrate it around the winter solstice or spring equinox. I recently came across a passage:
"At springtime, it may have been normal to celebrate the beginning of fertility and to pray for its extension over the coming year, but it was only in the autumn, at the end of the harvest, that the population knew whether their prayers had been answered. So that was the time to celebrate, to start the New Year, to be grateful and thank God for His blessings. It was a lesson that the Israelites learned from their time in Egypt."
I like that...it makes me realize how reverential the Jewish faith is for gifts received. What a meaningful way to begin the year - with gratitude for blessings already bestowed, rather than just hopes for future ones.
Thank you Max, for reading and writing such an insightful reflection here. Love it.
I knew about Rosh Hashanah but somehow didn't connect it to this idea of Fall being the New Year when writing this piece. But that's so interesting, Fall being a time of harvest, of blessings received. Reaping what you've sown as the time to recap and reflect and be grateful. Beautiful
Appreciate all your time here (:
I also boycott both Halloween and Valentines, for reasons similar to yours and some I hope to expand on and share soon, because these festivities are silly. I adore this time of year, with My birth and husbands being in Autumn, as well as the obligation to be in the heat coming to a close. It’s always fun, in the Spring, but Summer seems to drag on infinitely, and at least now I can go back to enjoying being outside, crunching leaves and watching my kids throw them in the air.
Hahaha thank you Amani for reading and leaving such a beautiful reflection. I found the beginnings of these festivities, like almost all festivities, are pure in nature but, like many things in the modern world, have become confused and estranged from their origins.
I was talking to my brother yesterday about childhood memories of jumping into piles of leaves, the crispness in the air. A lovely time of year.
Appreciate you being here (:
In where I live, there are only 2 seasons, monsoon or desert heat. Tropical climate for you.