It’s Fall—the Season of Change—Here Are Ten Reasons to Love It!

Change is in the air—you can feel it in your muscles and bones, you can feel it in your eyes, tired from lack of sleep, and most of all, you can feel it in your mood. Yes, I’m talking about the change of seasons, which this year, for me at least, has come at warp speed!

The arrival of late Fall has many of us already yearning for the warmth and light of summer, and wondering how we are going to cope with another long, dark winter, made darker, it seems by daylight saving time, which has us turning back our clocks this weekend.

Looking for the positives in Fall and Winter

It’s easy to get carried away with the negatives of this transition, especially if we suffer from SAD, that frustrating condition made worse by a lack of natural light during winter

So is there anything positive in this seasonal change? Is there anything to look forward to during the approaching winter months?

Why, sure, says the optimist in me. Let me count the ways:

Perfect Fall weather

As summer becomes drier in many areas of the world, the cooler air feels crisp and clean and more comfortable, and we welcome the return of moisture for the plants, especially the larger trees, which suffer through summer. And is there anything more mysteriously beautiful than an autumn mist, the hazy, swirling, foggy conditions resulting from the interchange of warm and cooler air?

Blaze of Fall color

In many parts of the world, nature puts on a final flurry of color in late autumn, the red, gold and orange panorama sweeping parks and countryside, and causing us to stop in our tracks in awe of the power of its beauty.

Bird migration

The haunting call of wild Canada geese as they wing out in their iconic v-shaped formation never fail to evoke feelings of nostalgia and yearning in us—especially for those of us who grew up on the prairies, where the call of the wild goose was a clarion call, warning us of the winter to come. Flocks of smaller birds dive in perfect unison, tipping, and swooping in response to an inner pilot unheard by us.

Fruits and vegetables are at their freshest.

Nature’s bounty is splendidly displayed in autumn, in farmers’ field, in market stalls, and ultimately on our dining tables—colorful produce, pumpkins, squash, corn and tomatoes are at their peak of flavor and appeal.

Taking it indoors

We can cozy up with Hygge

We can practice the art of Hygge, (pronounced Hoo-ga) a Danish tradition which gives us permission to indulge in warmth, coziness and well-being, enjoying the simple way of life—reading, sitting by a fire watching the flames, daydreaming our way through the evenings, wrapped in soft woolen blankets.

Denmark has made its reputation as being one of the world’s happiest countries, despite their long, cold and miserable winters. Meik Wiking, the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen has explained how this tiny nation’s adaptability and tranquil attitude has made it possible in The Little Book Of Hygge, available now at Amazon.

Enjoy being inside

If embracing Hygge wholeheartedly doesn’t appeal to you, you can still enjoy your indoor environment, indulging yourself with crackling fires, warm sweaters and new television offerings during the winter evenings—television producers time their new releases wisely with the Fall season, when you are more likely to view them, and certainly appreciate them more than during the summer.

Winter beverages are featured everywhere

Hot chocolate, pumpkin spice lattes, hot herbal teas like chamomile and orange spice,  and mulled wine, are available at restaurants, and coffee bars, and of course, in your own living rooms, where you can sink into your favorite chair and immerse yourself in the fragrances of autumn.

The holiday season is coming

For those of you who love the holidays—American Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year, it’s time to start making your lists of things to gift, things to bake, and people to be with. It always amazes me how, during late Fall,  these celebrations seem far away, yet how quickly the time evaporates, and how soon they are here!

It’s the ultimate season of change

The spirit of change is in the air

But most of all, it’s a fresh start, the start of something new. For many of us, Fall, and the beginning of the school year has always been about change. Throughout my childhood, and through my many years of teaching, the Fall has always been a time to make plans for the year, and to begin anew. It was always exciting to prepare for it by buying new clothes and new school supplies. Those memories stay with us as Fall arrives, and we feel energized by new fashions and products that are all part of enjoying something new.

And sometimes, somewhere, it’s election time

Best of all, appealing to the hopeful optimist in us all, in some countries there is a fall election—the most noteworthy being the midterms in the US. For those of us living in a democracy, no matter how much some governments lose their compass, and veer away from what is best for all citizens, there is always the possibility of change!