The Fall Fade
This has taken me over a week to write due to the intervening of life.
Many segments of our society mark the passage of time with an interesting combination of the change in seasons and activities associated with that. Retail, in my opinion, takes this to the extreme. For example, following the 4th of July, all summer apparel and merchandise goes onto the clearance racks and shelves. Whoa betide those seeking sleeveless garments in August! And don’t get me started on the real Pass Over: Thanksgiving. Should you spy any turkey related items in the stores, my suggestion is you purchase it immediately because by next week it will have been shoved aside for everything Christmas.
The Education Community has 3 seasons: school in session, breaks and summer. They have been seen to avert their eyes in denial when passing by the Back to School displays in July. Yet there is a palpable, electric excitement at the back to school convocations and especially as the kids pour off the buses and into the hallways the first day.
The first classroom I taught in had no windows. The building had been recently constructed in the early 70s back when the thought was public institutions should resemble concrete bunkers. Consequently I could never tell what the day was like weather wise until it was almost over. I remember driving home west, straight into the setting sun which bathed the changing leaves in that late afternoon gold. And then the next thing I knew, the leaves had all fallen and my car was skidding down the hill in the freezing rain/sleet/snow.
Being retired, you have the opportunity to observe and participate in the fade into fall. If you so desire, you can choose a tree and mark its daily fade. Doing so can put some perspective on the passage of time—perhaps not as rapid as we tend to believe.
I notice I've been referring to so many things in my life as a 'blessing.' I don't want to diminish that term by overusing it, yet I have been working on focusing on how many wonderful blessings I do have in my life. So, yes, it's been a blessing that I've spent the last six months in sunshine and warm weather. Being able to sit outside in shirt sleeves, turn my face to the sun and listen to whatever sounds of nature surround me instill a sense of peace and well being in my heart and soul that I find difficult to replicate when the doors and windows are closed to the elements and the sun makes its retreat earlier and earlier. Which is why I feel myself fading and am aware I need to ramp internally to adjust to the fade. Here are a few of the things I'm going to try--maybe they'll be helpful if you, too, experience the fall fade.
1. On sunny days, regardless of the temperature, spend a few minutes in my lounge chair to enjoy the final warm rays.
2. Be as true as possible to my exercise regimen. Personally this makes such a difference in my life and not doing this, regardless of the season, can really throw me out of whack.
3. Stay connected to friends and family.
4. Decorate the house for the season. This brings me joy not only when I do it but also throughout the season.
5. Stay in the moment, not worry about what is coming, especially weather wise.
6. On dank, rainy days, light scented candles. Changes the mood for me immeasurably.
7. Keep learning. There are so many things to be curious about.
8. Crochet winter hats to donate and don't wait to start doing this until it's the middle of winter.
Do you have anything to share about the fade? I'd love to hear it.
Many segments of our society mark the passage of time with an interesting combination of the change in seasons and activities associated with that. Retail, in my opinion, takes this to the extreme. For example, following the 4th of July, all summer apparel and merchandise goes onto the clearance racks and shelves. Whoa betide those seeking sleeveless garments in August! And don’t get me started on the real Pass Over: Thanksgiving. Should you spy any turkey related items in the stores, my suggestion is you purchase it immediately because by next week it will have been shoved aside for everything Christmas.
The Education Community has 3 seasons: school in session, breaks and summer. They have been seen to avert their eyes in denial when passing by the Back to School displays in July. Yet there is a palpable, electric excitement at the back to school convocations and especially as the kids pour off the buses and into the hallways the first day.
The first classroom I taught in had no windows. The building had been recently constructed in the early 70s back when the thought was public institutions should resemble concrete bunkers. Consequently I could never tell what the day was like weather wise until it was almost over. I remember driving home west, straight into the setting sun which bathed the changing leaves in that late afternoon gold. And then the next thing I knew, the leaves had all fallen and my car was skidding down the hill in the freezing rain/sleet/snow.
Being retired, you have the opportunity to observe and participate in the fade into fall. If you so desire, you can choose a tree and mark its daily fade. Doing so can put some perspective on the passage of time—perhaps not as rapid as we tend to believe.
I notice I've been referring to so many things in my life as a 'blessing.' I don't want to diminish that term by overusing it, yet I have been working on focusing on how many wonderful blessings I do have in my life. So, yes, it's been a blessing that I've spent the last six months in sunshine and warm weather. Being able to sit outside in shirt sleeves, turn my face to the sun and listen to whatever sounds of nature surround me instill a sense of peace and well being in my heart and soul that I find difficult to replicate when the doors and windows are closed to the elements and the sun makes its retreat earlier and earlier. Which is why I feel myself fading and am aware I need to ramp internally to adjust to the fade. Here are a few of the things I'm going to try--maybe they'll be helpful if you, too, experience the fall fade.
1. On sunny days, regardless of the temperature, spend a few minutes in my lounge chair to enjoy the final warm rays.
2. Be as true as possible to my exercise regimen. Personally this makes such a difference in my life and not doing this, regardless of the season, can really throw me out of whack.
3. Stay connected to friends and family.
4. Decorate the house for the season. This brings me joy not only when I do it but also throughout the season.
5. Stay in the moment, not worry about what is coming, especially weather wise.
6. On dank, rainy days, light scented candles. Changes the mood for me immeasurably.
7. Keep learning. There are so many things to be curious about.
8. Crochet winter hats to donate and don't wait to start doing this until it's the middle of winter.
Do you have anything to share about the fade? I'd love to hear it.
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