Fall’s memories, melancholy, and magic
Oct 1st, 2008 by spaceagesage
Fall is one of the best seasons of the year in Colorado. The days bask in warm sun, while mornings and evenings are cool and refreshing. The fall foliage radiates with the yellow and gold of turning Aspen leaves, and the star cluster named Pleiades shows itself on the east horizon after dark. Gentle breezes carry the smell of drying grasses, fallen leaves, and the crisp anticipation of winter. 
Some one who once lived in Colorado told me she enjoyed living in Hawaii for a time, but that she sorely missed the sometimes extreme seasonal differences of Colorado. Our winters can go below zero, our summers can get above 100 degrees, spring often brings our heaviest mountain snows, and autumn’s day and night temperatures can differ by over 60 degrees.
Life has its own set of seasons. For example, you may have heard this saying, “People always come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.” Or this one, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens.” The Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:1.
Depending on our childhood and early years, the change of seasons brings up different feelings. If we liked school, fall might have a feel of new learning to us, but if we didn’t like summer’s freedom to end, fall might feel more like loss.
I don’t know why, but fall makes me melancholy and introspective. I think my emotions are rooted in the awkwardness, shyness, and fear of school, both the social scene and the workload.
Finding inner peace, freeing the soul, and embracing life are not things taught in books or learned in hours of listening, but it can be touched and appreciated when walking in a colorful mountain aspen grove in the fall.
How does nature or the changing seasons affect you?
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Photo credits: speech path girl
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I was fairly isolated as a child, so I loved school. I still think of fall as the beginning of the year. I wilt in the heat and the coolness of fall invigorates me. Over the years I have learned to enjoy summer, though.
I feel much as Jean, except that I find myself deeply excited by every change of season. As I’ve gotten older, it surprises me. This fall, I actually asked myself, “Why don’t you get tired of this? You’ve moved into autumn plenty of times!” Didn’t have an answer — just still excited.
I think fall means melancholy for many people. It’s the shorter days and the cooler weather. I used to love fall and winter as a child. Now, I prefer summer. I’m not sure why. Maybe when I was younger I embraced melancholy, while now I am trying to escape it.
You have reminded me of another reason why I don’t like fall, besides the cooler temperatures, shorter days and oncoming snow. As a child I always hated going back to school in September. I was a good student but painfully shy. My stomach would be so upset in the mornings I could hardly eat breakfast. I don’t mind it as much now, but I prefer spring and summer’s sunny and brighter days… and no socks!
Spring – renewal and anticipation of warmer days
Summer – energy!
Fall – peaceful (my favourite season btw the way, when it is not raining)
Winter – hibernation and depression
Hi, Jean —
I’m glad you had school to help you feel less isolated. I would wilt now if I was in an Oklahoma school with no air conditioning, but somehow I didn’t mind so much as a kid.
Hi, Jody —
Thanks for stopping by and commenting — Welcome! I feel that kind of excitement about New Years.
Hi, Vered —
I would like to swap melancholy for free-spirited fun myself. I’m glad we have the opportunity to do so because I think it will mean more when it fully happens.
Hi, Davina —
Sorry to bring back bad memories. Lack of self confidence can make school so painful. I, too, love barefoot days with no cold toes!
Hi, Urban Panther —
Fall does have a certain stillness to it, but I don’t think for me it is peace. I’m trying to turn that toward centeredness. Having lived in the skiing resort of Aspen for many years, winter still has lots of energy for me.
It takes some time for me to get used to fall, the growing darkness, the colder nights, the leaves falling down. After some time I love the candles, the coziness of sitting on the sofa having a cup of tea and reading. I can adjust, but it takes some time…
You know what does it for me (you might think I’m crazy…), it’s the cold rainy days and the snowy winters. I don’t know why but there’s something calming about it all. I can sit, read and focus. I look forward to the winter season because we get away for a while and head for the mountains to go snowboarding. It’s my vacation for the grind of it all. My time away to just be there and relax.
@Vered: I’ve always liked winter 😛
I think the darker and shorter days make most people depressed. Am sure there is a disorder called SAD, which is related to this. I guess that despite the times we may have gone through or if our memories brings us sadness, the solution is to tackle these memories which haunt us and find a way of making peace and enjoying every season. Would that not be beneficial?
I live in Panama where we just have a dry and a rainy season, but I lived in Connecticut for two years when I was small and I went to college and law school in Washington, DC. I love the changing of the seasons, and there’s something special about each one. However, Christmas is my favorite time of the year, so if I have to choose just one season I choose winter (which I guess is kind of ironic since it’s soooo hot here 🙂 ).
I have a thing for wooded trees. So thanks for posting the picture above.
It’ll be nice to experience fall from where I come from. I live in a tropical island. We are 365 days humid all year round with no change in seasons. Except for sunny/rainy days.
I always need to travel abroad to see any changes in season. Hopefully, a vacation will come up for me soon!
Hi, Ulla –
Now if I could just add a fireplace to that image of cozy reading and a cup of tea, that image sounds wonderful.
Hi, Ricardo —
A winter-lover! I love winter snow, but not winter rain.
Hi, Marelisa –
Panama sounds great. I don’t know what it would be like to have a hot Christmas — I’ve always been in colder states during that time.
Hi, Sharon —
Thanks for commenting. In Colorado, when we have a few days of blowing winds, dark clouds, and horizontal snow, everyone gets a little cranky, because we are used to tons of sunshine. I think that is the hardest part for me — cold weather and less sunshine.
Hi, Evelyn —
If you need more pictures of woods — just let me know! I’ve always wanted to live in a tropical climate, preferably with ocean, beaches, and a very laid back lifestyle.
@spaceagesage: yeah, my g/f doesn’t like the rain either. But she has gone snowboarding with me twice now! She’s gotten so much better at it too!