The change from summer to autumn is always a little bittersweet.  It’s hard to let go of long days full of light.

I feel my heels dig in a little – I’m not sure I’m ready to give up the pace of these days, my increased extroversion, the gardening, the lake, the heat.

But as the coziness of the approaching autumn wraps me up more each day, I am filled with joy: I love this time of year.

I love the smell, the breeze, the colors, the baking, the candles.  I love going to bed at night when I can pull all of the covers up and sink in with a smile. I love more cups of warm tea.  I love exploring nature as she goes through this monumental change.  I love the feeling of family, simplicity, and warmth that is Fall to me.

The feeling of this changing season is a little like what I’m learning of motherhood.  As we approach each new milestone, I feel my heels dig in a bit.  I’m not ready to let go of the way things were. As with the summer, I worry that I didn’t experience each moment fully enough; I feel loss at the things that will never be again.

But as with the seasons, we can’t hold on. All things change.  And when we open up to them, we find a beautiful new way of being unfolding just waiting to be enjoyed.

May we all open up and embrace the changing of the seasons.