Desert Fall

An important part of living simply is to be aware of the natural world around us, and to take time to savor it. I like to be in touch with the seasons of the year, for each has its own beauty and lessons.

I live in the desert, where Fall comes slowly and does not last long. Some people even go so far as to say that we don't have a Fall. They are wrong. Fall here may not include a technicolor show of leaves changing color, but it brings other and more subtle changes.

The most obvious change accompanying Fall is noticeably cooler weather, which comes as an enormous relief after a long, hot Summer. As the days grow shorter, the sun rides lower in the sky - farther South. Shorter days remind me that it is time to slow down a little and re-evaluate my priorities: Have they changed? If so, how can I reflect that in my outer life? Shorter days also mean it is time to literally take stock: What needs to be done around the house? What items need to go to the free store? What projects do I need to finish?

Fall's energy seems to refocus my attention on what I truly value. Friends and family become more important, as Summer's sluggishness gives way to Fall's golden energy. The holidays are around the corner and it is time to plan for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Yule, and the New Year. It is important to stay within the budget and not tire myself out, yet I want to be a part of the festivities. I must find a healthy balance.

The quality of the sunlight changes, becoming mellower and almost golden at times, serving as a reminder to enjoy the gentler, everyday things. Again, it is time to slow down - to take my time while feeding the koi and the birds, to truly notice their beautiful colors, and to be thankful that these beautiful beings live in such close proximity to me.

Desert broom begins its flowering season now. Sometimes people think of this plant as a weed and, indeed, it is not what most people might consider "beautiful." Yet its very uniqueness causes me to remember that we don't all need to fit into a box - that each person has her or his own beauty, and that I need to slow down enough to appreciate this fact.

Certain garden plants reappear at this time of year. The calla lilies, which died back in the Summer, have returned along with the chrysanthemums. They are a reminder that life goes on, even when you least expect it.

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