preparing your heart and home for the season ahead
It is undeniable-the moment when fall arrives.
It is not a date on the calendar, but a feeling.
One mid-September day you are observing the lingering flecks of summer…the flies lazily buzzing around, the life jackets and lake toys still cluttering up the garage, the flip-flops by the backdoor. The next thing you know, you wake to an amber colored sun just above the horizon, positioned slightly more to the south than it was before. You step out onto the deck and are met with a chill in the air that makes your hairs stand on end. And thankfully, most of the bugs have given up their fight and there is a stillness all around, creating space in your mind to reflect. This is when we know fall has made its debut.
Right up until this seasonal passing of the baton, I still deny that it will come. For most of my life I have been troubled by seasonal affective disorder (aptly referred to as SAD) during the transitional phases in the latter part of the year. My body and mind are deeply sensitive to the rhythms of the Earth, and during these shifts my moods, sleep patterns, and energy levels are dramatically affected. For years it went unexplained and I suffered through it-until, during my intense phase of holistic healing from several autoimmune conditions, I came across the book Staying Healthy with the Seasons by Elson M. Haas. The information contained within was pivotal in helping me understand why I was experiencing the feelings and symptoms that I was, and practical ways to work with them and not against them. Instead of holding on for dear life while the world continues to spin with or without our consent, we can embrace the changes that are happening around us…and within us.
It really isn’t a difficult concept if you think about it. All the things of the Earth know what to do. The trees shed their leaves to redirect the nutrients to their trunks and roots and enter a state of dormancy for the cold months ahead. The microbial activity of the soil slows down to conserve energy through the winter, and Jack Frost even lends a helping hand with a layer of snow and ice to act as a blanket until spring arrives. The shorter days and longer nights of the season (that we humans complain about) give living things the natural cues to rest. And the glow of fall that I love SO much…it’s largely in part to the lower angle of the sun that changes the color and mood and creates softness. Gosh, when you think about all of that, how can you not love this season!?! Well, I think it’s because it is a radical shift from the hustle and bustle of summer! Because let’s face it, if you are not crazy busy during the summer, then something is wrong with you, right?
This brings me to the art of nesting. The very important preparatory time in which we tap on the brakes of summer and allow ourselves to slowly roll our way into the stillness of winter, instead of bring brought to a screeching halt. Fall is the time to shed our “leaves”…and our tan (insert sad-face emoji), and to draw our energy inward so to preserve it and nurture ourselves. Also, by drawing our attention to our core and our “roots” per se, we are creating inner warmth to protect our most vital body functions. While our fingertips and toes will most likely pay the frigid price at times, at least our bellies, hearts, and minds will be warm and toasty.
I have been doing a lot of reflecting on the word “nesting” lately. It was undeniable that in the month leading up to dropping my daughter off at college I was in full on nesting mode. However, it wasn’t until I noticed that I had literally created a nest in her room that the concept even crossed my mind. The boxes and bags and bedding had piled so high that all it needed was some mud, sticks, and feathers and an ostrich could have bedded down (do ostriches create nests??). All of the lists, planning, and purchasing seemed a bit much, but it was my maternal instinct kicking in to ensure that my baby girl was set up for success in her new phase of life. I was creating a physical and metaphorical nest of warmth and love for her to nestle into and gain strength, the same way I did just before she was born. As designed, as soon as she spread her wings and left the nest, the pile was gone and I felt content that I had done my job.
The same holds true as we prepare ourselves for the winter that is coming. We can choose to fight it, as may be our natural response, or we can choose to lean into it, which undoubtably makes it a much more pleasant and fulfilling experience.
Here is a list of the ways that I have observed my Autumn nesting instincts kicking in:
- the intense and sudden desire to completely redecorate with pumpkins, fall leaves, and candles. I’m not gonna lie, orange is one of my least favorite colors, and not just because it represents the University of Texas (which we Aggies have dubbed t.u. ;). However, at this time of year I crave it. By surrounding ourselves with these items and their respective colors of orange, burgundy, brown, and gold, we are emulating the same gorgeous, glowy hues that nature brings to give us a feeling of warmth and peace during this season.
- the “gathering” of all outdoor items; patio furniture, Adirondack chairs, hoses, etc. Most of this we do for practical purposes so that the ice and snow do not ruin our wicker rocker, and the freezing temps do not cause our pipes to burst. But also, there is something satisfying about wiping the slate clean on our decks and lawns and neatly storing the items away for next year. Perhaps this is equivalent to shedding and gathering of leaves, because our focus will be turned to the interior of our homes as we nestle in to stay warm and cozy.
- speaking of cozy…I don’t think there are enough blankets and sweaters in the world to surround me at this time of year! Almost immediately once fall is in the air, out go the shorts and tanks and in come the sweaters and hoodies! And speaking of blankets…the plushier the better! Call these the feathers of our nest. The soft and sumptuous fabrics that soothe our rough winter skin and surround us with a soft place to land and rest our bodies, allowing them to be enveloped with comfort and a sense of security.
- SOUP SEASON!! Need I say more? I don’t know about you, but rarely do I crave soup in the summer. Yeah, yeah…I know there is such a thing as cold soup, but no thank you! Soups are for fall, when the gentle aromas and wafts of steam rise from the stockpot while the big game is on TV. The inviting colors of butternut orange, sage split pea, and cream-colored leeks prepare the palate for delicious flavors ahead. Not to mention that most all of the produce that fall and winter provide make for the most nourishing meals…flooding our bodies with nutrients that have been missing during the hubbub of summer (hamburgers and ice cream anyone?).
I could go on, but you get the idea. What a wonderful gift we give ourselves by fully succumbing to the nesting ways of fall. Each loving step we take is another pump on the brakes, slowing us down and reminding us to focus inward. By embracing these practices over the years, my experience with seasonal shifts has drastically improved. And while I may not look forward to winter as a rule, I have chosen not to fight it anymore. I have chosen to prepare for it. I have chosen to create space for it. The choice is a simple one, really.
Happy nesting 🙂
THE THRIVING OPTIMIST 
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