What feelings arise with the onset of Autumn? Many people feel sad to say goodbye to summer. Some just dread the thought that "WINTER IS COMING" ! But I like to look at Autumn on a brighter note, preferably as a "Time For Reflection". Where I live in NY and further north, we are especially lucky. Mother nature shares with us an incredibly colorful treat as the trees prepare for the season ahead by changing colors and shedding its leaves. Why not approach our lives a similar way! I like to reflect upon the year past and prepare my mind, body, and "spiritual thoughts" for what I want in the months/year ahead. I simply start by asking myself what behaviors, actions, thoughts do I want to act upon or shed moving forward.
How do I find clarity during these difficult times?
We are living thru some very tumultuous times as we fight a global pandemic. Here in the United Sates, we are also facing much division amongst Americans on how to handle our economic crisis, voting choices, systemic racism, immigration policies, police brutality, climate crisis, gun violence .... the list goes on. Many of us are overwhelmed and anxious, understandably so. We have suffered unimaginable changes, hardships and losses that have been thrust upon our lives from the corona virus. In times like this, take a moment to look at what you've experienced and ask yourself "How can I move forward doing better than before? What have I learned from this experience? What is the right thing to do collectively for myself, my family, my local & distant neighbors, and especially our planet?". Most important, take action! Here are just a few ideas:
- VOTE not just for your party but for what represents your values
- ENGAGE in real conversations with people
- CARE for people in more need than you
- EDUCATE yourself on topics you know little about
- DONATE time or money to cause that matters
- JOIN a cause that betters the life for others less fortunate than you,
- CHANGE one habit a week that has a positive effect on the environment
A calming space for Autumn Reflection
You don't have to travel far but for me, with all of these thoughts running through my mind, it was the perfect time to escape to the Adirondacks. October brings the peak of fall foliage, which couldn't be a more picturesque and peaceful setting for reflection. Within a 6 hour drive, I arrived in Lake Placid, New York. I found myself surrounded by the calm of of an environment thriving in harmony with nature. A place where the air is crisp, the lake water is clean, and the mountains are lush.
I stayed at the beautiful Lake Placid Lodge with my husband and what a treat it was!
There's nothing like a canoe ride to take in the breathtaking views.
My days were filled with exploring the mountain trails and having quiet moments for reflection.
A guided hike with Naturalist and Adirondacks Guide Ed Kanze is a must when visiting the area. Learn from an expert about the natural habitat and the synergy amongst the trees, plants, animals and birds all working in harmony to survive. We can learn a lot from them!
On the final part of our trip, we went apple picking. As you can see I had a blast being surrounded by an abundance of apples waiting to be plucked from the trees. I just wish my bag was a little bigger!
We finished our trip with an overnight stay at Winvian Farms in a treehouse. Great concept, but just a little outdated in decor and management not embracing the beauty of their surroundings.
So wherever and whatever you can do to find some moments for you Autumn "Time for Reflection", grasp it however you can. Taking some time to appreciate the beauty of nature, learn more about our the environment and share in other peoples experience during these crazy times, will just open all of our hearts more to caring for one another!
Wishing everyone love, health and peace ❤️ 😷 ☮️ !
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