Fall: A Time for Play

Fall is here now and the evidence is all around us of the change from Summer to Autumn.  The nights are colder and the days are getting shorter.  The air feels crisp instead of sultry.  The leaves on the trees are starting to change colors and soon will be red, orange, and yellow instead of green.  Stores are bedecked with Halloween goodies.  New crops of apples are being displayed in grocery stores as the Fall harvest gets underway.

This is a time of year to celebrate the beauty of nature before Winter is upon us and we snuggle deep in our homes.  Here are some ways to celebrate the glory of the season:

• Revel in the cool mornings and warm afternoons.  Feel the refreshing coolness as you begin your day and bask in the warmth of the afternoon sun as your day winds down.  Dress in layers to be comfortable.  Wear a jacket or sweater in the morning and take it off as the day gets warmer.  By dressing appropriately for the weather you will be able to enjoy it without being too hot or too cold.
  
  
• Put your garden to bed for the Winter.  This may make you feel sad after the pleasure that your garden has given you over the past few months but it is part of nature.  It's the circle of life.  If you feel the sadness, let it go and start envisioning your garden next year.  This is a great time to plant seeds in your mind for how you want your garden to look next year.
  
  
• Take day trips to see the Fall colors.  The trees are at their most spectacular when their leaves change from green to red, orange, and yellow.  If anything signifies Fall it would be the leaves.  Make the effort to see them in their glory.  After all, it only happens at one time of the year.  Take advantage of the beauty.
  
  
• Take nature walks as a family.  This could even be as simple as a trip to the city park.  Let the kids explore the changes in nature.  Pick up colorful leaves.  Laugh at the antics of the small wildlife as they run around gathering food for the Winter.  Enjoy the crisp clean air and breathe in the beauty of the nature surrounding you.
  
  
• Once you get home, help the kids make treasure boxes for the treasures they collected in their nature walks.  This could be as elaborate or simple as the kids want.  Even a shoe box decorated with construction paper cutouts will hold the little bits and pieces that the children gathered.
  
  
• Take the family on a trip to the apple orchard or a pumpkin patch.  Some apple orchards even have wagon rides to delight the whole family.  Let the kids pick out the perfect pumpkin to carve for Halloween.  Let the kids see where the food is actually grown so they know it doesn't grow at the grocery store.
  
  
• Gather the family and some friends around a bonfire.  Roast some marshmallows and have a sing along.  This is the perfect way to say goodbye to Summer and usher in Fall.
  September is the perfect time to learn new things.  The kids are back in school and learning every day.  It's only natural that us adults think about our own learning goals.  We may want to take classes to advance our careers or make a career change.  We may want to pick up a new hobby or sport.  We may just want to take a special interest class to spice up our days.  All learning is good because it enriches our lives.
  
  
• If you find yourself at a loss for fun activities to do with the family in the Fall (or any other season) check out the Internet for ideas.  Websites such as http://crafts.kaboose.com and http://familyfun.com have wonderful tips for celebrating the abundance of Fall.

Above all, take the time to stop and gaze at the beauty that surrounds you.  Summer may be over but the glory of Fall is unfolding before you.  Revel in the splashes of color on the trees.  Bite into a crisp apple.  Breathe in the cool air.  Jump in a pile of raked leaves.  Look for the abundance around you.  Everything in nature has it's own beauty.  Including you!

Happy Fall!

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