What an interesting time of year Autumn is.

It is my absolute favorite season with the textures of coziness and warm toned colours. Layers of sweaters and the warmth of a well styled scarf. A lovely hug of socks around feet that have not been enclosed for months. The sensation of caress from a fleecy shirt. Is it any surprise that fashion is a fancy of mine? Beyond the somewhat, but not necessarily, frivolous nature of fashion, there are the sweet mysteries of seasonal produce in the form of sugars found in squashes and fruits which make for a heady and satisfying addition to any menu. The putting to bed of all the perennials that delighted us with their foliage and bloom throughout the summer. There is the recognition that not everything will live to see another year and our annuals hit the compost bins, our crickets and bees die off, we pay our respects to everything that delighted us and close another chapter in the form of a season.

To the untrained eye it seems everything is dying or going into hibernation, afraid of the dark and cold. Retreating into itself for protection and self-preservation. We marvel at the change in colours of the leaves, the aurora borealis in the sky as it darkens earlier by the night, the sweetness of the autumnal produce and the various ways to preserve it for the coming onslaught all while watching wildlife scurry around with provisions for store. How fascinated we are by nature forgetting that we are creatures of similar ilk, naturally bound by seasons by technologically adjusted to bust through the seasons boundaries. Unnaturally considering our humanness to be beyond the scope of the changing of the seasons. Such errors in judgment can cause us to pay a high price in every way and gradually deteriorate to the point where we are forced to a complete and shuttering stop, often at a very high speed. The shambles created by our inattentiveness can be costly and the restoration and regeneration can be arduous. On the other hand, a steady path to wellness lays a good foundation for an upcoming season of darkness. We are well on our way to preparedness for the long night.

For me, September brings with it an anticipation for a time in the not-too-distant future when I can slow down and observe, absorb all the feelings and emotions that busyness pushes to the side and sit in liminal space to rest and recalibrate. Collecting reading materials, finding inspiration for creativity and taking stock of what needs adjustment in the coming season. What happens when we give ourselves space to just be? The possibilities are endless.

There is quiet work to be done. The work of making sense of ourselves and the lives we have created. The task of abscission and the care of the scar to prevent any lasting affects. Putting away, moving around, repurposing and chucking out to make the necessary slowing down and wintering process more pleasurable and fruitful.

Setting out on long walks with a sense of awe and wonder is soul food. Using a camera to record sights that will remind me of the beauty of the season is a wonderful way to bring my wandering pessimistic mind to focus on the truth of the moment. I love all of the red, browns, oranges, yellows and greens and every shade and tone of said colours. They remind me of the work being done in nature for the the wintering preparation. The shutting down of photosynthesis and the wonder of pigment that was always there but hidden from sight as the mighty chlorophyll begins the process of breaking down.

I tend to notice things in summer because the effects that sunlight has on my mind and body is exhilarating. I am filled with delight at the very though of a new sunshiny day. Watching flowers grow and bloom under the tender care of my watering can and fertilization. Listening to the early morning birdsong and simultaneously feeding my cells their essential Vitamin D while enjoying the exquisite flavour of processed fruit from a coffee plant. But somehow, I rebel at the thought of the natural brightness dialing it down a bit so that conservation and rejuvenation can take place in the perfect balancing act of nature.

Take time to watch and listen, borrow a new book to read, walk fast and walk slow, choose a new scent to burn, awaken your taste buds, in fact your mind, with a new cuisine to dabble in, find a new colour for your lips, breathe deeply, soak in hot water, listen to something new not chosen for you by an algorithm, find a new topic to explore…there are so many ways to feed the soul in the seasons of life we find ourselves in.

All of the things I strive towards in my interactions and relationships with others, I need to adopt in the face of my own humanness. On the cusp of slowing down and settling in, it is good to apply a sweet grace to my own soul and permit allowances for the natural needs of my being. This is who I am on the eve of my 59th celebration of life and I had better accept it with a wide inclusive hug. Feed my soul with what is good and true and be welcoming with genuine hospitality to whatever proceeds.

Authors I have been reading in the last few months: Richard Wagamese, Katherine May, Shana Abe, Pico Iyer, Allison Pataki and Richard Rohr

Ingredients I have been dabbling with recently: chilies, chocolate, herbs that make Oaxacan cuisine what it is and pomegranate powder

A new colour I have added to my wardrobe: olive green – it pairs well with pink, burgundy, navy, camel and more

Something new I have done: added heavier weights to my workout routine and increased my protein dramatically

Yours truly with smiles, Lael