#44 Autumn Lessons

As October closed out and November rolled in, I had to put together a few of my thoughts relative to my next blog post. Before I got too far with where I thought I was going to go, something else was nagging at me that I felt maybe needed to be shared here. I always try to stay tuned in to my inner guidance and so here is what is coming from me to you.

It’s certainly no secret in my family that I’ve always been a summer type guy. Being a “Leo” with an August birthday, I so enjoy the long hot and hopefully sunny days and warm evenings. I start looking forward to it in early spring. But alas, it comes to an end all too soon as mid-September comes along with the advent of fall and October blows in. I tend to cringe, looking only at the upcoming dreaded winter along with the stressful holiday season. One might think that after all the summers I’ve been blessed to enjoy, that I’d get over it and just enjoy the change. Well, I’m trying that approach this time around. I had a little help with 3 upcoming events plus one surprise that snuck in.

First, was my wife’s birthday 6 days into October. She loves Fall and I really wanted to see her enjoy her special day in every way, so I did my best to make that happen. Next was a surprise on the 11th when I received my Credentials of Ministry. Being an ordained minister wasn’t on my long-range radar but listening to inner guidance can do surprising things if you’re open to it. On top of everything else, I’m looking forward to seeing how I can be of service in this arena as well. October 15th was next, and that day was my youngest daughter’s wedding. Without a doubt she was more stressed than I was since all I had to do was hand her over to her future husband with my blessing. And I might add, she was a sight to behold! Now I have two great son-in-laws! It was a glorious event. Two days after the wedding and some quality family time my wife and I left for a weeks’ vacation in New England to enjoy the fall foliage before it disappeared under a blanket of snow. We traveled with my brother and his wife from South Carolina to give us a little extra quality time together tooling through Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont, not to mention the Adirondacks of New York. It was beautiful and my wife couldn’t take enough pictures. Great memories.

Now I’ve shared all that just to share with you my autumn lessons learned. The first I’d say was flexibility. I really had something else in mind for this blog, something a little more esoteric and spiritual I suppose since that’s pretty much where I’m focused at this juncture of my life. But a detour can be a good thing if you just allow it. As a result of this however, I’ll probably slip in another blog this month just so I can feel fulfilled in giving you something spiritually inspiring.

My next and probably greatest lesson would have to be gratitude. I’ve written about this before in a blog or two, but it hits home when I experience it firsthand with so much in a short time. Gratitude for my wife and all she is and has shared with me. My heart swells seeing her enjoy herself and life around her. Gratitude for an opportunity for me to be of service in a different capacity to someone in need down the road. Gratitude for the blessing of family coming together to celebrate the wedding of my youngest daughter, many from out of state that I don’t get a chance to see regularly. Even gratitude for my ex-wife and her family who have always been kind to me over the years and supported my daughter with love and caring. Gratitude for my children who again are not often in one place at the same time. My brothers and sister and their families for the same reason. I also reflected even deeper for a loving gratitude for those family members who have passed on and were there in spirit. My mother and father who were the conduits for me into physical life so many years ago, along with others who were instrumental in shaping me into the man I am. Grateful for my health at this age and the ability to fully enjoy all that this past month of October has given me and finally grateful for my One True Father, Creator of All that is, knowing that He is expressed in me.

So, we now move into the month of November. Where we here in the US celebrate Thanksgiving, a one- day family and food fest that goes back to the early settlers of this country who were thankful for the bounty of the harvest and the opportunity in a new land. I sincerely feel that with all the turmoil and fear that is abound globally many of us don’t take the time to look deeper into what we all have to be thankful for, not just for one day out of one month a year, but for at least once a day, every day of the year. Just this one simple action can not only bring a smile to your heart, but help you focus on the love and good in this world.