Column: Autumn's Here

Autumn is nearing full swing on the Blue Ridge Parkway. {Kassaundra Shanette Lockhart/Davidson Local}

Until around four years ago, I wasn’t a fan of autumn. I still wouldn’t call myself a fan. However, I do now have a healthy appreciation for it in a way that differs from what I hear from its fans.

I’m not the person whose all excited about sweaters, boots, and hoodies. I’m not excited about cooler temperatures, morning dew, and fire pits. I don’t care about nothing pumpkin spiced – apple cider is the far superior flavor! I have plenty of scarves which I rarely wear. And I haven’t heard not nary a person share their enthusiasm for the fact that it’s daylight at 6:46am and dark at 6:47pm.

At this point you’re probably wondering does she really have a healthy appreciation or not? Why yes I do.

I’m a May baby, born right in the middle of Spring, of course. I absolutely love Spring and Summer. Like there’s nothing about those seasons that annoy me. Not the heat, not the humidity, not the insects. Nothing. I’m drawn to the sun and if it’s out making an appearance than so am I.

I love being outside. I love to work outside. I love to sit outside in the sun. I love to go on adventures outside. I love to lay in my hammocks outside. I be outside! Due to these facts, most of my Spring and Summer is spent on the go. From cookouts to family reunions to outdoor concerts to food truck festivals to hiking to impromptu gatherings to the beach, if whatever’s happening is happening outside there’s a high probability that I will be there.

Typically, my summer spills over into October and early November. It’s often still warm during the day in these fall months with the evenings being chillier. They still give me great weather to enjoy football games, fairs, and festivals while ushering in the thing I appreciate the most about the season – the slowing down of my life.

Since I don’t do cold, I’m in the house more. Since I don’t care for cold weather attire, I’m in the house more. Since I really don’t care for that 5:00pm darkness, I’m in the house more. My being in the house more gives me time to replenish and recharge from the previous months that were spent maximizing all the great weather and sun I could get.

My schedule isn’t as hectic this time of year so I’m able to do more of the things I love that I don’t get to do as much of during the warm months such as putting together puzzles, color, and read. I have no strong desire to be outside when the temperature is below 55. That’s my cutoff for wearing flip flops.

So, as I sit on the ottoman and look out the window at all the leaves that are changing color, I’m reminded that my rejuvenate days are on their way. The days where I’ll get to be wrapped up in a blanket, drinking hot chocolate reading one of the many books I need to start. The days where I’m under another blanket, enjoying some soup – cause oh yeah, #soupseason is one of the things I appreciate about autumn! The days where I’m in my onesie, this time, waiting on what I hope is a snowfall worth discussing this year.

If you’re like me, instead of being discouraged by the change, embrace it. Find something in it that works for you and hold on to that. The blessing in all of it is being alive to even experience the shift from one season to the next.

Happy Fall, Ya’ll!!!