Autumn is my Favourite Season
There are two very well known facts about me, one is that Autumn is my favourite season and the second is I love being creative. You do not need to have known me long, or scroll down far on social media, to discover this information. Although I’ve yet to jump on the pumpkin spice band wagon! This post brings these two loves together. We will look at the lessons we can learn from nature at this time of year through two fun, easy, low equipment creative activities.
Autumn may be my favourite season, however I am aware for many it is not. The shorter days, wetter weather and even knowing winter is on its way can make some people feel rather low. It’s all a signal that soon the financial pressure of Christmas is looming, along with the end of year deadlines, not to mention that there are no more bank holidays here in the UK for months. It is not surprising that the season once described as natures last smile of the year is anything but.
That is why this post has been created. It isn’t to change your mind about Autumn, or even to get you swapping into your Autumn clothes and home decor. It’s here to help all of us find connection and grounding in what is a setting off at full speed tail end of the year.
What is Autuming?
The act of wintering is growing in knowledge and practice. With the dark nights, cold air, and lack of general energy, people are beginning to see the benefits of purposefully slowing down. Taking their lessons from nature, those who winter embrace a gentler pace of life during this time period. They allow themselves to reduce their pace so they can recharge for the budding of new life in spring.
Having tried it for myself I can vouch for its benefits. It got me wondering, if Autumning was a thing, what would it be? There are many lessons we can learn from Autumn, however after consulting with a very wise panel I like to call ‘My friends’ and reflecting myself, I’ve concluded that Autumning is our time to reflect and prepare.
How to Autumn Creatively
In nature we see Autumn as a time to see the production or the reward of our hard work, otherwise known as harvest time! Nature reaps, but nature also prunes and prepares. Leaves are shed, we cut back branches, and we plant bulbs all ready for spring. In Autumn nature celebrates what it has been able to achieve so far then puts in the prep work for the next season of life.
Taking a leaf from nature’s book, we too can use September and the season of Autumn to reap and prepare. To reap means we can a look back over the year so far and see what fruit our hard work has produced. To prepare means looking at what we need to plant into our time, habits, and skills in order to grow. Remember the day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit.
Yes you could explore this through journalling, list making or scrapbooking, all of which I approve of and encourage, however for those looking for an alternative way to process your reap and prepare here are some fun, low equipment activities for you:
Camera Walk
Grab a device that takes photos and head outside. On this walk watch out for signs of the Autumn season, whether that’s the changing colour of leaves, or the different hues in the sky. Also keep your eyes peeled for fruits such as berries (reap) and plants that have either been pruned or need to be (prepare). Take a photo of these too. As you are wandering on your walk reflect on what fruits you’ve seen in your life this year. Then consider what you need to prepare for. Make sure you celebrate your wins, no matter how small, and plan your next steps for the future.
Slideshow
Embrace Autumn and hygge with this activity. On the approach to my children’s birthday’s I flick through the photos I’ve taken over the past twelve months. It is a brilliant way to pause, relive some precious memories and see just how much you’ve all grown in that time period. Grab yourself a blanket, light some candles if you’d like, and make yourself a brew whilst you take the time to look back through your own photos since January. Make note of what you’ve experienced, how those experiences have made you feel, and importantly, how far you have grown in this time. Then visualise what photos you’d like to see next year. How can you make those photos a reality?
Remember, if there are things you find difficult to see or relive it’s okay, make sure you seek help if you need it. This is especially important as we enter a SAD prone season.
If this article has lit a love of Autumn and you would like to find your own way of Autumning, why not check out these websites for more inspiration: https://www.frenchcountrycottage.net/12-slow-living-ideas-for-early-autumn/ | https://www.huffpost.com/entry/10-ways-to-slow-down-and-embrace-autumn_b_8392490
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