From My Perspective: The Change of Seasons

Where I grew up in Southern Cal-ifornia, I remember learning about seasons in elementary school. The teacher had it up on a bulletin board. Winter began in December and end-ed in February. March through May was springtime, June through August brought the heat of summer, and Sep-tember through November equaled fall.

Honestly, in Southern California, I feel like seasons are more of a myth than a reality, but it was some-thing we all learned about in school nonetheless.

When I moved to Pennsylvania in the mid-90's, I discovered a more true meaning of seasons. The need for different clothing, like, say, a winter coat and snow boots versus a tank top, shorts, and flip flops. I discovered fall and all its beautiful golds, reds, oranges, greens and browns, along with crisper air and shortening days. I learned there that April showers really did bring May flow-ers, and summer, which had been my favorite season as a child, was nothing but a sticky, stifling heat that quickly be-came my most un-favorite season there. Honestly, there are only two things I really miss about Pennsylvania...both of my kids who still live there and the amazing colors and crispness of fall.

Now that Montana is where I call home, my fondness of seasons have changed, but fall still remains my favor-ite. While it may not be for the amazing colors, it is for this same underlying reason: For me, fall is more like a new year and new beginnings than the one that falls on January 1st each year. My year, thanks to the year it has been, hasn't even been as insane as it usually is with travel and class preparation, yet I am feeling more worn down this year than ever before. 'm looking forward to shorter days, more time at home, and settling in for the long haul.

As the season of fall arrives, it is the time where I do more of a spring cleaning, so to speak, and get ready

to face those cold winter months. So, as the seasons start to change from the dry heat of summer to the crisper mornings and reminders that winter is on the way, it's a little different. This year has been like none we've ever seen before. I find myself looking more forward to the coolness and new beginnings of fall and am relishing the thought of hunkering down at home. Never have I felt myself more wanting to slow down, hide away, enjoy our little space in our cabin in the woods, read books, knit, and cuddle up by the fire.

The other thing I love about fall is the reminder from the trees that it's okay to lose everything from the past year and move forward. To change the things I don't like and begin the process of growing and doing more of what I do like. Just as trees get ready for winter, they are doing things on the inside, so when they emerge in the spring, they've created new branches and grow new leaves. Fall is my time to let go of all that isn't serving me, feeding my soul, and helping me grow. It prepares me for the cold winter months where I can do a lot of work on the inside too. Not just in terms of our house, but person-ally and internally, so that when spring comes, I too can grow new branches, new leaves, and thrive. This year, fall seems even more important and sa-cred than in years past to do just this.

No matter what your favorite season is, I hope you enjoy it. I hope it is to you what fall is to me and gives you the time to reflect, renew, and regenerate. If it isn't, I invite you to try, especially this year to find the season you love best and let it become your favorite.