I have a love hate relationship with fall: I enjoy the beautiful colors of autumn all around me,but I also can’t help but think about what comes afterwards. I’m a summer girl; I thrive on warm weather and sun light. Come to think of it, I’m much like a cat in that respect! I don’t like cold weather, and I definitely don’t like snow.
However, in the spirit of living in the moment – something my cats remind me to do each and every day – I try to embrace fall in all its glory. I’m making it a point to pay attention to the slow changes in the leaves in my backyard, and on my daily walks. I’m focusing on appreciating the beauty of the season, rather than on dreading the inevitable journey toward falling leaves and winter.
Fall is a season of harvest and a celebration of abundance. It’s a good time to take stock of all you’ve accomplished this year. Take time to celebrate your own growth.
Fall is also a season of contradictions, at least in this part of the world. Warm, almost summer like days alternate with chilly, sometimes grey, days and nights. It’s kind of a metaphor for life: life is not always predictable,, and it can be pretty messy at times. Joy and sorrow are both parts of a life well-lived.
Ultimately, fall is about the inevitability of change. This year, I’m going to let the beautiful colors of the season be a reminder to embrace change.
And if I need a reminder of all that is good about fall, all I have to do is look at my two beautiful tortie girls with their orange, yellow and tan fall color coats. Nothing brings out the gorgeous colors in torties’ coats better than the light of autumn.
What are some of your favorite things about fall?
Seems to me it is fun to welcome each season, just like our kitties do. Living in Kansas, we get some pretty wild weather sometimes, but fall is lovely. Enjoying each day and watching the changes. My kitty is similar to some of the others above….he gets pretty energetic during this time of year. He is an indoor/outdoor cat and loves to be out more often this time of year. Summer and winter, not so much. Thanks for posting all your observations. Love reading them!
And after fall and winter there will be spring and summer =^.^=
I am not sure we are going to have the beautiful colors here in the state named after me. Although we still have beautiful flowers, which is not bad either but I think the fall colors on the East Coast are just so precious!
I agree with you regarding the thinking of what comes after. I do love the Fall though. The abundance of color and the clean crispness of the air. Fall is my favorite season next to Spring.
The colors are definitely my favorite part, Viki.
I love the fall colors especially the oranges and yellows of changing Aspen trees in the Colorado mountains. There are some gorgeous red trees in my neighborhood too. I like the crisp cool breeze, not too hot and not too cold yet.
I’ve seen pictures of the Aspen trees in the fall, Cynthia, and they always look stunning. It must be amazing to be able to see it for real.
Ingrid, it is one of the treats of living in CO. I just adore the Aspen trees in fall. It is amazing and a privilege to see it for real. You must come to CO sometime and see it yourself. You follow me on Facebook . When you get a chance take a look at my profile picture. My husband and I had that taken on a ‘leaf peeping’ trip in 2008. I just love that picture.
I agree with you, Ingrid…I love fall but I know what comes next. I love the fall colors the best.
Island Cat mom Sue
The colors are definitely the best part about fall, Sue.
I love fall. I enjoy the cooler weather, change of colors, seeing the squirrels come out and hide their goodies, birds flying south. All the bounty of pumpkins, gourds, etc.
The squirrels have been very busy here, Sue. Allegra and Ruby are having fun watching them!
Fall is my absolute favorite season!
I think I knew that about you, Caren! 🙂
Ingrid, I think that my cats “come into their own” in the fall. Something about the cooler temperatures gives them more energy and zeal coming out of summer, when they were spending much of the day very still, clearly not overexerting themselves! When the weather starts to change, they run around more, they are more talkative, and they seem hungrier! Their coats start to fill out for winter, and they seem much more willing to cuddle (that’s my favorite part). They go through a similar transformation in spring, too: when the trees wake up and the birds come back, they also get more lively. In early spring, I can’t peel them away from the windows because they are chittering at all the new birds setting up nests near our home. It always amazes me that they can live indoors just like I do, yet be so much more attuned to what is going on in the natural world. My cats follow the seasons and respond to each change in turn, reminding me — as your beautiful girls remind us, too — that we should all live in the moment!
It is interesting how even indoor cats seem to so in tune with the seasons, Ashlie, isn’t it? I, too, love that Allegra and Ruby want to cuddle more in the colder months, especially at night!
I love being able to open the window and let the cool breezes waft through the house after the heat & humidity has gone. Having the AC off and the window open makes me feel more connected to the world outside and makes four kitties very happy. I also love the color blue of the October sky, with the colorful leaves against it. I think it’s one of the most lovely times of year.
Allegra and Ruby love having the windows open, too, Dorothy – and so do I!