October

The Seasons Change

Spring has always been my favorite season with it’s fresh blossoms and it’s simple promises. The rising sun in Spring promises new beginnings, fresh starts, unleashed energy, and unharnessed dreams. Fear and sadness seem to melt away like the last remnants of snow under towering pines. It has always been a joy to roll over in bed in the early morning, to be greeted by the first rays of the rising spring sun peaking though the blinds.

This year, however, I am falling in love with October as it ushers in another season. The sudden briskness of the early mornings and the pleasantness of the evenings slam the door on the brutal, relentless heat of summer. Most years I have found the fall months to be attractive placeholders in time. They tease of days when you find yourself wanting to huddle down in a comfortable chair by a fireplace, a good book in your hand. They are the days when the Farmer’s Markets and outdoor strolls are some of life’s most welcome activities. The days usher in scented candles, indoor warmth, and peaceful reflection.

Perhaps it was my heart attack in July that is throwing a different light on things this year. Perhaps it is just getting a little older. I don’t know the full reasoning but this year feels different. October is still soothing in all of the old, familiar ways but, in my life, there is the unmistakable energy that usually accompanies the spring months. As the suffocating heat has given way to the cooler temperatures and my physical strength and stamina has slowly returned to normal, I find my mind awash with new dreams and new story lines. I can’t wait to step outside and start another day, feeling extremely blessed and thankful for life and opportunity.

Living in the greater Phoenix area, the fall energy can also be partially explained because we know that this season is not a doorway to a dreary winters of shoveling snow and huddling down in parkas. We will still be wearing our shorts and flip flops for at least another month before we shift to blue jeans and light jackets. Living in this area, fall has always been marked by the cooler weather but the internal recognition of the season is largely internal. The visuals that other parts of the country enjoy are simply harder to find.

The best part of the cooler months for my wife and I is that our back patio becomes our “den”. It is where we enjoy our morning coffee and think about the day ahead. It is where we read our books, watch the news, or stream a movie. The dogs bring us balls to toss or curl up in chairs beside us. The outside world seems to fall away for a short period of time and we are just left to enjoy our little back yard oasis. We seize the opportunities to be out here every chance we get and strive to extend the season for as long as we can.

It is really the rhythm and flow of our lives. This year, however, feels different to me. In my mind, the peaceful and comfortable nuances of October are sharing the space with the feelings of hope and renewal usually found in the beauty of a sunny March day. I am more than okay with that, thankful to still be here to reflect and enjoy. Wishing you all a wonderful fall season, wherever you are.