Office Hours

fall opening ceremonies

Some thoughts on leaves:

We love the turning of seasons, the shades of green turning to amber and gold before hitting the ground. What we are really cheering on is the death of a leaf, the shuttering of growth season and the beginning of hibernation. But for new buds to form in spring, death has to happen.

What if we viewed our own falls in a similar manner? Our failures, our prolonged seasons of suffering, our broken dreams. What if they were leaves falling to make space for new life? As versions of ourselves wither and drop, it makes way for growth. New limbs, further heights. And what we miss about ourselves can always be seen, budding out gently but sure, in spring.

So cheers to the fall and the falling. May the shedding of the old be beautiful, may the stillness of winter bring rest, and may the hope of spring always be kept in our minds.

Opening Weekend

In the south, there are a few opening weekends that are celebrated with pride. The opening weekend of college football and the opening weekend of deer season are both viewed as a bit sacred in the calendar year. My husband travels on the first weekend of college football season so a few years ago I decided to make opening weekend something special for me and my girls. Thus began Fall Opening Ceremonies. We take a weekend and we welcome fall into our home. Is it 95 degrees out? Yes. Do we experience a true fall in Texas with apple picking, leaf piles, and crisp winds? Absolutely not. Nonetheless, we persist. Our opening weekend includes a few traditions. We make our way to a bookstore for everyone to get a new book, we stop by Home Goods and pick out a few apple or leaf scented candles, we pull out the minimal fall decorations we have and spread them around the house, we bake a treat, and we bring out a big puzzle. This is usually set to the You’ve Got Mail soundtrack for extra good vibes.

It is a simple but joyful day that has become a well-loved tradition. I didn’t think much of it until a friend told me last year, “Your home always smells like the seasons. It always feels special depending on the time of year.” I love how doing these small things makes my home feel even more welcoming and engaging for people. I own around 5 decorative pumpkins and 2 small bat garlands for halloween. Most of the items end up in my girls room because they squirrel them away when I’m not looking. But the small intentional step of switching out a candle, moving around some decorations to add more texture, or keeping a rotation of fall feeling music playing makes it actually feel like fall. I’m amazed my home can shift the feeling it offers with a few changes.

I have opening weekends for every season. Christmas, winter, spring, and summer. And with each one I hope my home takes on the feeling I try to infuse. Even if it doesn’t, these opening weekends signal to my brain that a new season is beginning. It brings excitement and hope as we look forward to the coming months. I don’t want to slip aimlessly from season to season, I want to welcome them with open arms (and a fresh candle) to celebrate all they offer. A few hours on a Saturday sets us up to feel the enjoyment of fall even when it is still almost triple-digits.

So make your own opening ceremonies and see how it changes your season and your home. Maybe you get a haircut every fall, host a watch party for a football game, make a pot of chili the first weekend in October, however you welcome autumn in, I hope you welcome it wholeheartedly. And if you are sweating while you are welcoming, that is what air conditioning and a pumpkin scented candle are for.