I was traveling down the highway today when I realized that this is the first year in many that I can actually recall enjoying the fall foliage. I have been living here in New England since I was 5. I suppose when you spend so much time around something that you become immune to it. The realization makes me feel like I have been asleep for years, unconscious to my surroundings.
My mother loves to tell the story of when I was very young, most likely around 6, when we were in the car one October day and I said to her, in all my innocence, “Someone should tell God that he does a really nice job painting the leaves.”
I’m not sure what the cause was to heighten my awareness this year but I am grateful. Perhaps it’s because I have been out in nature more or that I’ve been taking so many pictures. Maybe It’s a part of my recent awareness in the here and now.
I started noticing the changes early on. It started out as a few leaves and became gradual as the more healthy trees seem to stay green longer. The colors vary and each tree is unique and magnificent in its own way. It reminds me of us. How we go through phases in our lives where we feel like we are dying inside but everyone else still seems to see our beauty. It’s still there. The leaves may completely fall and the trees may seem bare, but it is not long before the flakes of winter arrive here in New England and the trees show their beauty as they stand tall, holding snow on each branch as if to say, “I caught this for your to admire.” A sign of strength. The spring comes and life returns as with us, the cycle of the things we go through in our lives.
Take time to notice the beauty in, not only your surroundings, but in others in your life as well. Don’t take the beauty of others for granted, just because you see them all the time.
The Peace and Happiness Project 
I quite agree – there is so much beauty in our every day that we take for granted. It’s like travelling, everyone wants to travel to exotic locations when they haven’t even seen the city/country they live in…… appreciate the here and now – and yes, I agree, God does a pretty fantastic job!
That is so true Tamisin! We recently traveled 2.5 hours to spend the weekend in Vermont to hike a mountain, only to later come home and go to the mountain 20 minutes from us and find that, although the 2 cannot compare, it has equal amounts of beauty. Thank you for stopping by!
About 10 days ago I posted a picture of one of the local farm displays. The morning sun was shinning just right on yellow leaves, the pumpkins were set up, the scarecrow was pretending to be the farmer, oh – it was lovely. I’m glad I stopped to snap the shot. Because I captured the beauty of the moment and I got to meet the real farmer and chat with him for a bit. Right now, the best part of my commute is autumn.
xxoo
I think I saw that picture Peggy. Another thing that is so wonderful about you stopping to take that picture is that other people got to enjoy it and appreciate it. They may have even driven by and missed it themselves. Now you get to enjoy it whenever you want, even when it’s gone because you didn’t take it for granted and captured its beauty in that moment. I had someone from my area share my album that these pictures are in. She is out of state and is homesick. I put a smile on her face.
You are so lucky to get to see a fall change. Here in Texas we don’t see much of that. You are also very right in not taking things for granted just because they have always been there. My Dad had a stroke last week which was a screeching halt, eye opening event that made me all too aware of this. I love the pictures. Thank you so much for sharing!
I’m so sorry to hear that Kathie. We do take people for granted. We get used to things being a certain way and don’t want to see past that. I’m glad you appreciated the pictures and got a taste for the New England Fall.
This is sure a pretty time of the year. I like watching the leaves gentle floating down to ground I find it quite peaceful.
Stop in from UBC and coffee is on
It’s a brisk night here as well. Be careful. Once those leaves are on the road and it rains, it gets slippery. Thank you for stopping by.
I love October as the leaves hit peak color here in Rhode Island. We’re just starting to get flashes of the really brilliant stuff now. 🙂 And it’ll be gone in an instant. I adore this time of year. I’d never seen a red leaf before I moved here in 1993… and I was so excited I mailed one to my father at home in Montana (forgetting that he grew up in PA and was quite used to them!).
Happy blogging!
– Melissa (http://www.measi.net/measiblog)
I have thought about mailing them to California! That’s so great that you actually did it. I bet it still made your dad feel like he was at home. Thank you for sharing that!!
I know that I sometimes take things for granted. But I think it is definitely important to stop and cherish all you have and the amazing things that surround you!
Well said Barbara. Thank you for stopping by.
Ahh, yes, the cycles of life…autumn is the season of maturity and fullness, of ripeness and wisdom. I love autumn.
Beautiful post and beautiful photos.
Blessings.
Penny
Thank you so much Penny.I appreciate that. I’m glad you stopped by.
I took too much for granted for too many years. Now, I have several friends and relatives with cancer. A couple of them do not have good prognoses. I realize that our time to leave the Earth may come right up on us when we least expect it.
I know what you mean Alana. I’m so sorry to hear about your friends. I came close to losing my son and my husband in two separate very bad car accidents within a 9 day period. I’m sure that’s what has contributed to my awareness and focus on what is important. Thank you for sharing something so personal. I pray for your strength as well as your friends’.
This is such an important lesson and so true that many of us don’t notice what’s right in front of us. I travelled to Japan this time last year and really appreciated the autumn leaves there. I realised that people in Japan make a point to visit the best places to look at the leaves at different times of year. I found it so interesting and wondered why we don’t seem to do the same back home? I am really enjoying autumn back home in the UK this year 🙂
I’m so glad to hear you are taking the time to appreciate the leaves as well. I know for myself, in the past, I let the business of life get in the way. The constant need to keep up and rush to get things done had my mind over preoccupied. Thank you for sharing.