Hello October!

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." - L. M. Montgomery

Happy October 1st, my friends! I love October. It is my favorite month of the year. The crisp autumn air, the falling leaves, the explosion of color that only comes with the changing seasons. October is a time of transition into winter. It is a reminder to enjoy life in all its seasons and to have appreciation for things we so often take for granted.

What do you love most about your favorite season?

October allows me to enjoy the days before a long, bitter winter sets in (goodness knows that is what happens in the Midwest). I like being able to wear my comfy fall sweaters. I love being able to go for walks in the park on cool, sunny days when the leaves are falling from the large cottonwoods. I enjoy sipping hot cider in the evenings, curled up with a good book. I love how clear the sky gets at night, when my favorite constellations become visible. I savor the opportunity to be a science nerd on those nights, tracking the progress of certain celestial events in our galaxy.

It is the time for me to pull out the mittens and the autumn coats. To revel in the childhood delight of carving pumpkins and jumping in leaves (who says young adults can't join the fun?). To make Halloween plans with my friends. To go for long drives in the country and be reminded how blessed I am to be living a full and beautiful life.

I simply love October.

It gives me the opportunity to anticipate winter and all the beauty that comes with a season of its own. It gives me the chance to look forward to Christmas, to twinkling colored lights on the streets, to ice-skating, to peppermint mochas. October promises that a new year is soon approaching, with the opportunity to start fresh and right past wrongs.

As the seasons change, take some time to reflect on what you love most. And lastly: happy October!