Why Fall for Fall?

It's usually when you have to pull your sweatshirts out for the first time, or when you see a few golden leaves begin to drift down from the trees that the social posts pop up bemoaning the end of summer.

"Ugh, the cold is coming!"

"Summer, I'll miss you!"

Even, "This sucks!" …can all be heard like sirens squealing out of your IG and FB accounts.

People hate Fall.

I'm not one of them.

There's something about this time of year that invigorates me.

Maybe it's the bejeweled trees or the crisp air in my nostrils. Even the rain and the chilly evenings just feel like nature's way of communicating that new things are coming.

If you hate this time of year and you're already beginning to crawl into your winter cave, allow me to entice you to appreciate it, even just a little bit.

I know Summer's a glorious season. I'm not suggesting Fall take its place as your favorite, but I am proposing that Autumn may hold a few gems of its own for you to enjoy. And perhaps the symbolism of seasonal change may carry some spiritual wisdom that applies to you as well.

I'm lucky to live in a place that experiences the hallmarks of all four seasons. By the time one season's over, I'm usually ready for the next to begin. I like change, and Fall's approach stimulates the senses like no other. To embrace it, try being in the moment. Feel Fall's approach through your senses.

Temperatures begin to mellow from the blazing hot of summer to comfortable days and cool nights. Yes, you may need to don your sweatshirt. It can feel a little chilly, but sweater weather is great, and Fall styles usually mean layered looks. Hats and boots come out again as do scarves and wraps. But you don't need your jacket… just yet.

The trees, wrapped in rich hues, become nature's living artwork. Ambers, oranges and bright reds color the horizon, dotted against contrasting evergreens. Deer graze peacefully in vast fields of golden grasses. Squirrels scurry to collect abundant acorns that have fallen to the ground.

Wood fire smoke and leaf decay in the brisk air bring signature smells of Fall, as people gather around firepits to enjoy the warmth of a blaze with friends and family, or maybe you'd be found cozied up on the couch by the fire with a good book and your fur baby instead.

Fall smells also abound in the kitchen as heartier comfort foods come back into the rotation. Root vegetables and slow-cooking meats hop into crock pots to make mouth-watering, cook-all-day stews to warm you from the inside. Carrots, parsnips, potatoes, sweet potatoes and winter squashes covered in rich, herbaceous flavors come out to play, providing comfort to your taste buds as well as your belly.

As daylight compresses into fewer hours, consider honoring the Earth's cycles and get more rest! All of nature is beginning to slow down in this season. Perhaps it's a good time to end the mad scramble to get things done and be okay with what gets done in a given day. Get comfortable with switching off, and allow yourself to settle into relax-mode by the end of the day.

Being prepared for Fall weather can mean the difference between loving and hating it. Get your cozy clothes out--socks, slippers, PJs, sweaters, hats and blankets. Wrap yourself in woolen knits, light fires and drink hot herbal teas. Teas like licorice root and cinnamon not only warm you with sweet spice, but also keep your blood sugar stable and kill viruses and bacteria that begin to proliferate as temps drop and people spend less time outdoors.

Don't forget to nurture your spirit. Spend time in nature, connect with friends or enjoy some quiet time. As in every season, doing the things that fill you up keeps you replenished and resilient.

Most of all, be open to embracing change. You may have heard the saying, "Change is the only constant in life." Expecting change means being flexible and responsive to it. As Fall brings an end to summer, it also harkens a renewal that's lurking underground. Seeds are dropping, opening up, and taking root in soil that's rich from fallen leaves.

You, too, can grow this season. How will you enrich your spirit and your body--your own soil--and what beautiful seeds will take root?

The possibilities are endless.