The days are getting shorter. There is a sweet breeze in the air that smells like letting go and giving in.

Sweaters come out of exile and cozy blankets hug the the ends of the beds.

Our thoughts turn to upcoming holiday gatherings.

Pumpkins are carved and lit for little ghosts and gleeful goblins to find their way to sweet treats. Conversations turn to what smells will fill our kitchens as we give thanks for the abundance around us. Hopeful hands write letters to the jolly man in the red suit and parents hearts are warmed with anticipation of making wishes come true.

This changing of seasons gives us the opportunity to take some much needed deep breaths, draw our shades down, light our fires, warm up the soup and relax into the quiet, peaceful sounds of the silent snow falling though the trees.

If only!!

Nope.

For most of us our frantic busyness just kicks into high gear.

There are decorations to pull out of the garage, shopping lists to make and guest lists to create. Then there are cards and invitations to send out and parties to plan and attend. Decisions on gifts and how much to spend and where will the money come from and who will do the shopping and the cooking and the wrapping and the cleaning and….oh, how will we ever get it all done?!

What if we took the lessons we have learned from the last few strange and difficult years and did things differently? What if instead of trying to recreate our lives of pre-pandemic times, we started new traditions – kinder, gentler, more mindful ways of celebrating this special time of year?

There is an old saying- “Mother knows best” and I think in this case Mother Nature really does know best.  I think if we would only listen, she would be an amazing teacher.

I have chosen some quotes that I hope will show us all how to cozy up to a slower season of being and let Mother Nature teach us her perfect way of tucking ourselves in to this time of reflection and rest. Hope they inspire you to give in to her gentle persuasion.

“It’s the first day of autumn! A time of hot chocolatey mornings, and toasty marshmallow evenings, and, best of all, leaping into leaves!”

Winnie The Pooh

“Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.”

Unknown

“Autumn is the season to find contentment at home by paying attention to what we already have.”

Unknown

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is time for home.”

-Dame Edith Sitwell

“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, ‘Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.'”

– Lewis Carroll

“Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour.”

John Boswell

“No animal, according to the rules of animal-etiquette, is ever expected to do anything strenuous, or heroic, or even moderately active during the off-season of winter.” Kenneth Grahame

“Winter is the time of promise because there is so little to do – or because you can now and then permit yourself the luxury of thinking so.”

Stanley Crawford

“Winter is a time to slow. To grab hold of that wheel that spins your days too quickly and give it a firm tug. To let your thoughts catch up with your body. To pin down that idea that’s been circling your mind for months. To remember that life isn’t an emergency.”

Kelsi Turner

“There’s nothing better than curling up with a good book and sitting in front of the fire on winter evenings.” 

Leo Sayer

I hope we all find our way to peace and the joy of letting go of the busyness in the serene quiet of the season.