Happy Autumn from New York City - Lessons of Falling Leaves

Thankful for Beauty

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It’s rather amazing outside in NYC right now, and I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have this beauty of the changing seasons to gaze upon, particularly right now when life’s brought me a big change — selling a house before there’s another to move into. There’s nothing I can do about this real-estate timeline, so … I’m going to play the cards as they lay.

Moving is stressful. Sometimes it can be exciting and full of dreams as big as pie. Sometimes it can just be a sharp jolt of uninvited reality. Either way, it’s not easy.

Yet ... outside … outdoors ... there is beauty everywhere. Autumn in NYC is one of the most glorious sights to see.

Time to Frolic

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New Yorkers take full advantage of autumn’s gift. We all know that we only have a few months of frolicking outdoors before we have to endure the wet, windy, will-it-ever-end winter. We launch ourselves from our domiciles and run about nature’s backyard, all purple and orange.

We have lots of fun.

Parks throughout the five boroughs are so full of activity it’s astonishing. Parents would be hard pressed not to find things to do.

Like pumpkin carving ...

or marionette shows ...

or sweets.

Pumpkin Spiced

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Every food or coffee spot tries to bank on the flavor of pumpkin and spice. It’s everywhere. Pumpkin-spiced cakes, coffee, pancakes, muffins, cocktails. People can’t seem to get enough.

But for me … there’s more flavor to be had than “pumpkin spice,” (which is most likely conjured in a lab). You see, there are markets. Harvest has come, and there’s plenty to eat. How could you not take these beauties home?

Gimme Costume

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This year, I’ll have to miss the party. I won't see the Halloween extravaganza of parade and parties lighting up NYC as the sun sets on October 31. We’ll be closing the sale of our house on this day. But last year, my husband and I had an awesome time as Gomez and Morticia. Maybe we’ll still attend, as artist vagabonds.

Learning from Leaves

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It’s funny how we celebrate change so easily when it’s a shifting of seasons, but when it comes to life, it can be full of stress and self doubt. I know that like the coming of fall, change is inevitable. Can I see my own change as amazing as turning leaves? Maybe.

It’s true: when leaves turn golden, they’re dying. But how glorious they go about it. How wondrous. And the trees stay living, stronger for their ability to let go. There’s a lovely book by Loren Long entitled, The Little Tree. The tree is afraid to shed its leaves. It suffers and becomes alone because of it, fearful of change. But eventually, the sapling finds courage to let its leaves fall, and by doing so, grows to enormous heights.

There’s so much we can learn from a falling leaf.