Feeling Grateful this Fall

The air in the morning around here is crisp and chilly, the kind that makes snuggling under the covers that much better and cold toes on the wood floor a reason to stay in bed for 5 more minutes.

I love these first few days of fall.

The sun has warmed the world a little more by afternoon and evenings come with the smell of burning leaves or the last charcoals of summer.  These pleasures and moments of beauty I want to savor are simple and free, they ask nothing other than stepping out of the house, taking a walk, holding a tiny toddler hand and pointing out red leaves and swirling smoke from backyard piles.

But along with the season change comes other pleasures that, though not bad in and of themselves, certainly wedge themselves into the way I expect to enjoy these moments.  Cozy sweaters with new scarves in scarlet, hunter and mustard plaid (like the GORGEOUS one below), steaming lattes held by manicured fingers in moody colors, seasonally decorated porches and black mulch around yellow mums.

(credit)

More than any previous year, this fall has brought out in me an unhealthy expectation to be able to run out and just pick up whatever new on-trend apparel or decor I want.  Perhaps its the completion of our kitchen renovation and our summer of spending significantly more than usual (though mostly at Ikea and Home Depot), but it seems our budget has flown out the window and I'm forgetting all our long-term goals and the value of delayed gratification.

I'm right up there with the rest of the women in any developed county, cute jeans and a new sweater just FEEL good.  But this September, I need a kick-in-the-pants reminder that so does a full emergency fund and growing retirement account.

So, instead of running out to the mall, I'm searching for a few ways to enjoy the season with what I already have.  I'm spening my week hanging up the perfectly nice fall clothes I already have (and cherishing the few cute sweaters that I did happen to find on sale).  I'm lighting a fall-scented candle and wiping the drywall dust from the window sills. I'm organizing closets to find and straighten up all the home decor items I loved and used last year. I'm decorating with free pumpkins kindly picked from a family member's farm and I'm taking walks with my girl to find leaves and pine cones and things she'll remember doing instead of buying.

God help me, I'm still going to want a Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice this Saturday morning, and I'm sure I'll oggle over any plaid scarf I see in any shop window, but I'm going to try to practice a little more resourcefulness and gratefulness for what I have.