Embracing Autumn: A Season of Reflection and Renewal

As summer fades away and autumn settles in, a wave of nostalgia rolls in amidst the change. Every year as the seasons change, we change with them. Summer and spring are times of happiness and refreshment. The grass grows green, the blossoms flourish, and the sky clears clouds of worry. Like these enchanting seasons, autumn and winter carry a different type of beauty. As colors slowly retreat, a sea of orange, gold, and white peeks through. A chill creeps in, bringing with it a contrasting essence of warmth.

A certain glow appears with the thought of crisp amber leaves and fluffy knitted blankets. This is the time of year to sit on your couch with a warm mug of hot chocolate and look out to welcome the beautiful season of autumn. This is the time to reconnect with old friends, reacquaint with treasured relatives, and, most importantly, reunite with your seasonal self. The frost of these months softens our summer identities and opens us up to reflection and introspection. This is the beauty of personal renewal as the seasons change.

As we embrace this season of change, let's explore what autumn truly means. With the end of the year creeping towards us, I think of the past season and how it has changed me. One of my favorite ways to express myself is through words, which is one of the reasons you're here, but journaling is another avenue as well. I've created a list of journal prompts perfect for this season of self-discovery:

1. What distant memory does this season remind you of?

2. Describe autumn in one word.

3. What are you most grateful for this season?

4. If fall was a person, who would she be?

5. What is your comfort show to binge this fall?

6. What’s on your autumn bucket list?

But journaling isn't your only means of self-expression; scrapbooking holds its advantages as well! Gather your glitters, tapes, and stickers, and put together an album worthy of autumn's beauty. These projects have taught me that sometimes it's okay to let go of plans and strategies, especially when it comes to art. You don't have to be the best; you just have to allow yourself to be shown on those pages.

Speaking of pages, autumn is one of the best times to cozy up next to your fireplace with a good book. I have to admit, I wasn't much of a reader, but once you find a good book, it's hard to resist the alluring beauty it opens up for you. The world of literature is like a realm of magic and opportunity. You get to live the lives of millions through the anecdotes among seemingly simple words and the journeys among a variety of characters. So, here's another list, but of my favorite fall reads:

1. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

2. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

3. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

4. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

5. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

6. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

Each of these books represents a contrasting aspect of autumn, whether it be the warmth of family and home, the exploration of identity, or the magical, mysterious elements of this season. To me, this season holds many faces, each one expressing a different and distinct beauty.

Take this season to explore yourself more deeply, just as this season reveals itself slowly to our eyes. Just as autumn holds many wonders, we ourselves are treasure chests that possess wondrous gems of identity and divine pearls of authenticity. Let the softness of a blanket against your fuzzy socks as you sit next to the fireplace be the catalyst for your journals to manifest, the warmth that spreads throughout your body with the sipping of your hot chocolate be the inspiration behind your imaginative scrapbook pages, and the crisp crunch of autumn's leaves beneath your feet be the reminder that prompts you to recall the wonders you’ve read this season. Embrace these moments and allow the beauty of autumn to reveal the beauty within you.