The following is a creative piece by a young woman who describes mindfulness beautifully!
So it may already be time to rake the leaves that have fallen thus far, but I bet there are still some yet to fall to the ground. Personally, I love fall. When I see the colors bursting into life on trees as I pass by, it sends a warm feeling through me. For one, I love yellow, orange, and red but beyond that, I think those colors combined on the trees and on the ground, creating a blanket of warmth and vibrancy, is a welcome change from the typical green leaves of summer. In addition to the colors, the crispness in the air that accompanies the coming of fall is such a relief after the stale air of summer.
To delve deeper I bring you a quote I saw by Elizabeth Lawrence*, “Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.” I was drawn to this quote because I do have a positive emotional reaction to the crisp air and beautiful colors of fall which is what I think Elizabeth is saying. Part of what makes me feel a sense of calm is the opportunity to see something that has been stagnant for months seem to come alive. The colors that arrive with fall are just that, lively and exciting. I completely agree with what Elizabeth was saying. It is so important to be mindful of the changes around us and when it is something beautiful such as the change of a season, we can not only watch it but experience it. I feel the crisp air when I leave for work in the morning. I hear the rustle of the leaves in the wind and the crackle underfoot. I see the beautiful colors and they seem to send warmth through me. All my senses are affected in a positive way by the arrival of fall and this ties right into what I’ve been learning in counseling. I have been given tools to use when I am feeling overwhelmed by thoughts and emotions and one of these tools is to be mindful of what is around me and to use my senses to help me. I think following Elizabeth’s advice to stop and “watch the leaves turn” is an excellent way to practice mindfulness and self-sooth when I am having a difficult moment because it can be experienced through my senses. It reminds me that I am in the here and now, that life is going on around me, and that things can change and do change. I’m learning I can choose to be a part of that change and look to the world around me for encouragement. Stop and enjoy the leaves and see if they give you the warmth that I experience.
*“Elizabeth’s desire and passion was to garden and writing about gardening was what she knew best.” http://www.winghavengardens.com/ElizabethLawrence.asp
