I’ve made it a point to get outside and enjoy the sun lately. I’m a remote employee, so I have the luxury of bringing my laptop outside to bask in some vitamin D. I’m fully aware fall is imminent. And from my time on this planet, I’ve learned after fall comes winter. The warm sun will soon be a memory. So, even though I may have neglected the sun for weeks at a time this summer, preferring to hide in the comfort of conditioned air, I’m trying to fill up my soul with the sun’s warm rays while I can. I’m grateful for the warmth and brightness the sun provides.

As summer comes to a close and fall creeps closer, one of the most glorious meteorological shifts happens in my neck of the woods – southeastern Connecticut. The sun comes out in full force during the day. Temperatures range from 70 to 80 degrees. But once the early evening approaches, the air cools down. When I went to bed last night, the air was so cool and light on my skin. It was a pleasant 59 degrees outside. I opened my window wide, and the sound of crickets lulled me to sleep.

When I woke up at 7 a.m., the temperature remained the same. I was a bit chilly with my ceiling fan on, so I was wrapped up snug in my duvet cover. I rose from my bed to begin making school lunches and prepare my kids for the day ahead. Before I left my bedroom, I grabbed a housecoat and thought, “It’s almost time to give up the cold brew coffee.”

Life Passes

Seasons pass by fluidly and seemingly fast. Life is the same way. It’s easy to go through a day without sitting with the wonder of the ordinary. But finding the beauty in some sun on my face or a chill in the air is what makes life worth living. As Nelson Mandela is known for saying,

“Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward.”

I’m hopeful there will be more sunny days ahead; although, I’m sure I could find some beauty in the rainy ones as well.