The Beauty of Fall: How to Hygge & Savor Your Life

A Reminder to Soften, Rest, and Recover

So often, in the rush to excel and achieve our goals, we push and strive and grind. We think that our lives need to be “perfect,” highly structured, precise, accurate, and regimented to be successful.

When that happens, think of the seasons. Think about their willingness to let go.

Think about their openness to change.

Fall is beautiful because it reminds me to soften.

As the trees let go of their foliage and the leaves fall and crunch beneath my feet, I am reminded that, like nature, I, too, am allowed to soften.

I, too, am allowed to let go of what no longer serves me.

I, too, am allowed to go within myself, to hibernate, rest, and return rejuvenated, come spring.

I, too, am allowed to give myself the gift of time, to give myself precisely what I need.

Welcome fall into your Mindfulness Practice

As the leaves begin to change color, take the time to slow down and truly see them transitioning from green to red to orange to yellow to brown.

Allow nature to usher in its resplendent beauty, and accept it, graciously, into our lives.

Faaallllll!

Sigh it out, like a deep, unending breath; marvel at all its fun and festive delights; and savor its deliciousness.

It’s a feast. It’s the season of pumpkin lattes, persimmons, wreaths adorned with acorns and pinecones, and that gorgeous scent of cinnamon and clove.

We bring out our plush throws and zip ourselves in the softest down-filled vests and fur-lined boots. Plaid skirts and shirts are everywhere, as we run through the corn maze and pose for photos next to an old-school, classic red Chevy truck.

As we walk across the overlook, the wind whips through our hair, the sun warms our shoulders and, across the vista, the hills are peppered with pumpkins of all sizes. Pumpkins so big grown men can sit on them and youngsters can pile on them in twos and threes.

We amble through the rows, picking pumpkins and gourds. We stir our hot apple cider with a fresh cinnamon stick.

And we go indoors, to enjoy a big bowl of piping hot butternut squash soup, with a creamy dollop of ricotta in the center.

Ahhhhh, yes!

It’s the grandest season to enjoy all things pumpkin. Pumpkin muffins, pumpkin rolls filled with light fluffy creme, pumpkin pies after dinner, and more pumpkin lattes to welcome the meek morning light.

Then, of course, my favorite activity: Trick-or-treating to celebrate Halloween with my kids. We get all dressed up for it. My kiddos in their favorite costumes that change year-after-year. And me — with a lil cat nose, whiskers painted on my face, and a pair of fluffy cat ears — that remind me of when I was a kid, so excited to hand out all of the candies I’d prepared for my friends.

To this day, I love carving pumpkins. I’ve done so many, and can’t wait to share them with you all. They’ve gotten more intricate over time. Morphing from the black cat with its arched back, to Elsa & Olaf one year, to Harry Potter and a Dragon next.

It’s the season for cool crisp nights. Laughing around a roaring fire pit. And the warmth of time spent enjoying the season with family and friends.

Together, we gather that warm energy, like fluffy little squirrels, squirreling away our nuts to be stored and savored over the cold winter months.

All of this reminds me of the warmth we can gather, when we truly savor our lives.

Perhaps the best word to describe it is hygge.

Hygge is the Danish and Norwegian word that captures this cozy, contented mood, that’s all about comfort and conviviality.

But, what I love most about hygge is the idea that we needn’t wait for any particular season to create more hygge in our lives.

We needn’t wait for fall.

Or winter.

Indeed, we must not wait at all.

We must shore up our reserves!

Stock up on the warmth that hygge can give us — any time of of the year.

Let’s remember to hold ourselves in a warm hygge embrace, every day.

Our biology’s wired for it.

It’s why we love to snuggle. It’s why we love to spoon.

It’s wonderful, how it feels…so right.

It’s replenishing.

Soul-nurturing.

It’s the perfect gift to give ourselves any day, any time.

And it’ll sustain us, when the going gets rough.

Join me, this fall.

Make it a fun mindful practice, to meditate on our Earth’s natural ebb and flow.

Each and every time you enjoy some aspect of fall, be deliberate:

Let yourself soften.

Relax…without any guilt.

Don’t postpone your happiness!

Let your mind & body relax.

Allow your senses to bask in the warm, autumn glow.

I know I will.

Whether it’s with my morning pumpkin latte, or my afternoon pumpkin muffin, I’ll be telling myself the most wonderful things, like:

“I take the time to rest, relax and recover.”

“I trust I’ll return, well-rested, rejuvenated, and ready to grow once more.”

What delights will you discover? Let me know. I’d love to hear from you.

The Hygge-filled Fall in me honors & respects the Hygge-filled Fall in each of you,

Marisa