What Does Autumn Really Bring?

If you're a regular reader here at Empty Nest, you know I adore fall and all things associated with it. Winter comes in at a close second. Even though our fall isn't lovely here in the low-country I still have a strong sense of the wonderfulness of all things fall. I enjoyed delightful autumns in my youth and into my 30s when we still had some changing seasons here in the Charleston area. Luckily, we are a mere 3-hour drive from the mountains so witnessing first hand the beauty of fall is never out of reach.

I love all the usual things about fall that everyone else loves--

• holidays
• colors
• weather
• clothes
• football
• food
• decorations

But autumn is deeper than that for me. Everything seems easier in the fall and more enjoyable. Lighter. Happier. Even my memories are better.

The air is cleaner, crisper giving me cause for pause to look, feel, and breathe in deeply and to don oversized sweaters and relish their cherished comfort. Tastes are warmer, sweeter, and soothing from the first taste all the way through. Colors are more vibrant and alive and provide inner warmth and feelings of comfort and a surety that all is well for that moment, at least. The sounds of the leaves rustling in the wind evoke visions of happy times past and present.

What autumn really gives me is renewed hope. How? Fall relaxes me and causes me to focus on the good things I've experienced in life and I realize there are more good things to come.

Fall brings me a time of positive reflection whether it's remembering the good times of childhood or the people whom I loved dearly or even lessons learned from mistakes made. Sometimes it's the memory of an autumn walk where leaves skittering across a deserted road made me debate whether or not to turn around to make absolutely sure it was an actual leave skittering across the road. Or the old haunted house at the campground with the broken glass and the tattered curtain that blew through a shattered pane and sent my brother hightailing it faster than light itself and we all ran with him because he was running it didn't matter why in BROAD DAYLIGHT (you can read this hilariously haunted tale right HERE.) It might be a mental picture of my grandmother in the kitchen preparing a meal while humming a hymn from long ago and smelling her homemade bread just about ready to come out of the oven. Maybe it's the Thanksgiving meal with all our family gathered around knowing we were grateful for one another and especially for my grandparents. It could even be a shadow of college love holding hands and appreciating the days of autumn together. There are times autumn brings tears of longing. Even those are welcomed as part of my autumnal repertoire. There is nothing about autumn I do not appreciate.

Nothing quite stirs my soul as autumn does. And so I bring out the flannel, the big sweater, the floppy socks, the decorations, the recipes, and the hot drinks and look forward to my memories and the renewed hope that I know autumn will bring.

What are your favorite things about autumn?

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Samaritans

One good thing about having 5 WHOLE/ENTIRE/MARVELOUS DAYS OFF is happening upon a news story that leaves you feeling good and motivated and even more hopeful than ever.



The Samaritans are making a difference.  (IF the video isn't working click HERE for the link. It's only 56 seconds long).

I, personnally, believe they have the capacity to make a HUGE difference.

This is the kind of thing that someone like me--a nut case a ridiculously hopeful person- believes that will help put a stop to an incident like the shooting at Newtown. 

Yes, I believe that if we busy ourselves with trying to spread happiness, caring, concern for our fellow human beings, we can, eventually, put an end to senseless violence.

And, yes, maybe it's because I believe a huge part of the problem behind these types of shootings centers around mental health. But smiling, laughing, happiness, joy---these are all contaigious acts. They can make a difference in everyone's lives.

FROM ADWEEK:

"...the campaign is taking its message to the streets via "social experiments." These include cheering "fans" at railroad platforms to greet commuters and wish them a great day; surprise skyscraper elevator sing-alongs; and handing out citrus fruits emblazoned with the message, "Orange you happy?" Roberta Hurtig, executive director of the Samaritans, tells AdFreak that the campaign is designed to expand the conversation about suicide prevention and "focus attention beyond the sad and tragic connotations … to include the hope and happiness that is created when people make connections with one another." Is there concern that such stunts, though well-intentioned, could backfire by rubbing some people the wrong way? "No one who is suffering wants to be told to 'just smile,' " Hurtig says. "But our events are an invitation, not a command—the difference matters, and it's noticeable. A smile shared is contagious, and we've had very positive feedback." If it increases the group's exposure, that's all to the good. Only a heartless Grinch would frown."

Maybe if we stopped being so self-consumed. Maybe if we stopped turning our backs on someone who looks like they need to talk because we don't want to spare the time. Maybe if we took a minute (or less) to greet a stranger with a smile.  Maybe little things like this can make that big difference we need.

I'm not saying that this will cure someone with a mental illness. BUT, what if it was just enough to give that person carrying that gun the slightest glimmer of hope. Just enough to make him/her re-think long enough to turn the other way. To get help.

Think about that.

It really is amazing how doing one simple thing for a matter of seconds could, possibly, turn a person's day around. And then that person turns another's life around. And so on and so on.

It's an old philosophy. But it has value and worth.

Just like our fellow human beings do.

Are you ready to smile?