09 Oct Fall in Love with Your Life in October
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
— L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
Are you ready for crisp air and new beginnings? Do you love to see the changes in the season and painted leaves on the trees? There is something about this time of year that gives us a chance to pause and to be reflective. What comes to mind for you when you think of October? For me, I cherish the opportunities of spending time with my family and friends going to football games and apple orchards. I guess you could say it’s heartwarming, and quality time that can be so rewarding. In the October 28, 2024 issue of Psychology Today, Harry Cohen Ph.D., affirms this notion. He shares, “When we spend time with people who love and support us, our bodies and brains work together to create a natural boost in energy and well-being that virtual interactions simply cannot replicate.”
Getting a natural boost in energy, and in our well-being, are great reasons to look for ways to interact with others this month. So, why not find things we enjoy doing to embrace the autumn aesthetic? Below is a bucket list of October activities to do with others and also by yourself.
Hopefully more than one of these ideas will strike your fancy, and you will be able to reap the positive benefits of embracing the month of October. Leigh W. Jerome, Ph.D., wrote about resilience in her October 30, 2022, Psychology Today article, “Autumn is a season able to bolster our bodies, minds, and spirits. By making the most of this season, we can amplify the positive vibe that comes with fall and build resilience as we ready ourselves for the more melancholy days of winter to come.”
Autumn does provide fun opportunities to indulge in during this colorful season. Although, if there is something going on in your life right now, it may not be the right time for you to complete a bucket list. That is ok, you do what you need to do to process your feelings. If you start feeling better, jump in where you can and do what interests you the most. I started with planting a fall garden. Have you ever planted one of those? It’s an easy way to lean into fall, and every time you look out your window—perhaps while drinking your morning pumpkin spice latte, you will enjoy those cozy fall colors. Plus, there is a point of pride knowing you created it by yourself.
Here are the supplies I used for my fall garden:
- 4 small mums (your color choice)
- 4 flowering kale plants (your color choice)
- 3 polka dot plants (Hypoetes phyllostachya)
- Some greenery such as: Ivy, Sweet Potato Vine, Creeping Jenny Vine
- Various sizes and colors of miniature pumpkins
Directions:
- Choose a space or various containers you may want to plant your garden.
- Group plants in an interesting pattern. For example, alternate the mums and the kale around your polka dot plants.
- Add filler greenery, or if it is already there from your summer garden then leave it.
- Add your pumpkins and alternate the colors and the sizes to add interest to your garden.
What fall activities have you already started? Possibly there are some that I have not mentioned, such as fall movies. Some binge-worthy movies worth viewing, or viewing again, are Hocus Pocus, When Harry Met Sally, It’s the Great Pumpkin—Charlie Brown, Practical Magic, Rudy, Midnight in Paris, Remember the Titans, and my personal favorite, You’ve Got Mail. Fall is also a perfect time to practice gratitude and mindfulness. Why not use this month to celebrate the little things, and fall in love with your life while doing it? I hope your October will be filled with new beginnings, a feeling of bliss, and beautiful moments that remind you how lovely your life is now, or could become in the future.
Barbara K. Stump is an art education consultant and contributing G3 writer.
