Nourish your roots …

This is one of my favorite times of year, in part because of how much I enjoy all that comes with cooler weather— fires, candles, sweaters, and scarves! Life moves inside, both literally and figuratively, as the days get shorter and nature goes dormant. The artist in me loves how the color of the light changes and the drama that can play out at sunrise and sunset. On long walks in the fading light, my eyes roam the landscape, noting how far I can see.

If we take time to notice, we can feel an instinctive push to get ready for winter as our bodies register that Autumn is coming to a close. There is a rising anticipation, a sense of waiting that grows stronger as the days get shorter.  I imagine this is what our ancestors felt, that need to finish the harvest; to store food and fuel to survive the winter.

These days, much of our preparation becomes focused on how we will celebrate the holidays. This also evokes our experience of the season. I grew up in Colorado, and have vivid memories of playing in the snow and smelling all the pine while finding our Christmas tree in the mountains each year. I remember burning my fingers on the cookie tray because I couldn’t wait to taste my favorite cookie (it’s still the favorite, and my siblings and I send pictures every year when we bake them). We always opened one present on Christmas eve — guess what, new pajamas from Grandma (yep, every year)! As a child, even though I knew what to expect, I looked forward to the return of each experience with family and friends.

There is such magic in these rituals, in how they imprint themselves on our hearts and minds, in how they nourish our sense of what it means to be loved and to be alive.  As adults, we come to realize what it takes to create these traditions -- the planning, shopping, wrapping, baking, driving, gathering (and gathering again) that goes into making these moments happen. We can also take a cue from Nature and recognize that while there is much that may be keeping us busy and engaged, the natural world is moving into rest and stillness. It’s time to get cozy and be gentle on ourselves and on each other.

Find a moment to get quiet and remember what made this time so special for you. Feel the gratitude for all that was given through those experiences, and what you have chosen to do now for your own family.

Then I encourage you to take a moment and celebrate all that you are doing to create an environment and experience that your child will remember, always. For this is the ground we are creating together; one that is rich, lively, and will bear much fruit in minds and hearts.

Nourish the roots.