The Calming Beauty of Fall

It’s been over a year since my last post. My apologies if you were hanging around waiting for a new one ―Ha ha! Most unlikely, I know― but my blog has been one of the last things on my mind. My health is still throwing me for a loop. Every time the seasons change, my head and body throw everything they can at me which makes it pretty difficult to cope. The last month or so has been worse with the season and weather changing. Before that the heat, humidity and hurricane season were making things difficult. It goes on and on with each change during the year. Not to mention, I have year round allergies. Each season has different allergens. Allergies are not kind to my head or body either.

I’ve regressed to dealing with it all more by myself with the exception of a very few. This is how I used to deal with it. In the past I didn’t really talk about any of it with anyone. Which is why when I was younger only my parents, teachers, some people at church and a very select few friends (who didn’t attend school with me) knew when I was hospitalized or even dealing with migraines. I’ve always hidden it extremely well. You learn to do that when you’re diagnosed at six years old, but have been experiencing them since before age two. You don’t want to miss out on anything at school or anything fun that’s going on. I started talking more about it in college, once I went chronic (24/7, 365) in the second semester of my freshman year. Several years ago, there were many people that suggested I start a blog. In reality, I’ve learned most people don’t care to hear about your struggles with a chronic illness or chronic pain unless it’s something like cancer, MS, ALS, or something similar. It’s just the way it is. (I’m not trying to dismiss anyone or their disease, illness or what they are experiencing/going through in any way. Anyone that is fighting any of those should be supported, encouraged, loved, validated, taken care of, and cared for in any way they need as well as any way possible!)

I’ve been retreating and hanging back more this past year. In the last month or two, I haven’t been on social media much, if at all.

This was just a quick update that not much has changed with my health since last posting. It might be a little worse, but I can’t even tell anymore. It all runs together.

The rest of this post is about my love for fall. Enjoy!

 

The above quote is how I feel every year when fall starts arriving. I feel so very alive in the fall, more than any other time of year. It also brings a calming and peacefulness to my heart and spirit.

Here are some of my favorite things about fall:

-That my birthday is right after the beginning of fall. It marks the beginning point of my favorite time of year, even if my birthday isn’t as delightful as the fall season is.

-The colors. Everywhere you look there is a vibrant sea of reds, yellows, oranges, and of course greens.

-When the leaves have fallen on the ground and crunch under your feet when you walk on them.

-Season premieres of TV shows that usually occur the week before and the week of my birthday.

-Watching the leaves fall off the trees. The other day I stood outside for about 10 minutes just watching the leaves silently falling and it was so calming and peaceful.

-Scarves, gloves, boots, sweaters, hoodies, comfy thick socks, fleece lined anything, blankets… anything that keeps me warm in the cooler weather (which I adore… and hate) because I’m always cold.

-When the wind rustles the trees and all the leaves that are already on the ground.

-College basketball!!! Let’s be honest, this is one of the main reasons I get so excited about fall.

-Football (I mainly watch only 2 teams). If you’ve known me for a significant amount of time, this will probably be a new revelation, because football has never been my favorite.

-Drinking hot tea or hot chocolate… because if you know me, coffee is not my thing. I’ve always wanted it to be something I like, because it smells sooooo delicious. If you ever see me drinking coffee, it is because I’m desperate and I will most likely be chugging it down to make it disappear as fast as I can and avoid the taste.

-Going to see the colorful trees & leaves, preferably in the mountains. I could stare at the beauty all day long… every day. Anyone want to take me somewhere?!

-The cooler weather… when it finally decides to arrive. I love that it brings no humidity, and no bugs (one of the biggest perks!!).

-When you’re driving and the leaves start swirling around you on the road.

-Pumpkin pie & pumpkin bread

-Soup, soup, soup! Of course a grilled cheese makes the soup even better.

-The light. There’s something different about the light during fall. It’s warmer… and more beautiful to me.

There’s so much more I could add, but I will just stop here. Take the time to see the beauty around you… no matter what season or time of year. Sometimes it’s in the big things, but the majority of the time you will find beauty in the little things.

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”  ― Albert Camus

“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.”  ― Lauren DeStefano