#givethanks 2

Today I’m grateful for seasons. That might seem like a weird thing, but hear me out. I’ve met people who haven’t really experienced seasons. People from places like southern California, where it’s warm and sunny year-round. Or Arizona, where it’s a little warmer. Places where they haven’t experienced snow, or leaves changing color, or spring blossoms. I’m sure they all know about those things, but it’s not the same as having them happen all around you.

Autumn is probably my favorite season, but it’s a close race. Summer is a great time to be out on the water, or hiking a trail, or just enjoying a sunset. But winter means skiing and snow hiking and even bitterly cold days where the best thing to do is just sit in a warm, cozy house. And spring is when the flowers show up, and the shorts come out of the closet after a long hiatus. They’re all great in different ways.

So now, as I consider the beauty of autumn all around this area, I’m reminded of a simple photo I took a couple of weeks ago.

Seasons mean changes, and those changes can be a catalyst for self-reflection. As summer has faded into autumn, and now autumn seems to be gliding into winter, I’ve been thinking about what changes I could (or should) make in my life. That’s a topic for another post, but for now suffice to say that I’m thankful for the beauty of the changing seasons.