Fleeting October

October is the month for painted leaves.... As fruits and leaves and the day itself acquire a bright tint just before they fall, so the year near its setting. October is its sunset sky; November the later twilight.

Henry David Thoreau

The windows were long and wide and stood open. Outside, the sky was deep with October’s blue; the air was brimming over with October’s snap and sparkle; the gay leaves were rustling in the merry October wind. Beyond the hedge lay the woods full of asters and gentians and chestnuts.

Helen Ward Bank

October is my favorite month. Perhaps that is why it seems the shortest month in the year!  Yes, I know that February is actually the shortest month, but that winter month often feels like the longest month of the year to me! The saying that time flies when you’re having fun sums up about how quickly I feel that October passes. There are never enough days to visit every favorite autumn place. Never enough time to be still and savor the beauty of the colors. Never enough hours to do everything that I want to in order to enjoy every single aspect of the month!  Yet I can choose to appreciate the October moments that I do get to enjoy rather than letting missed opportunities detract from present joys.

So, this month, though disappointed that I missed out on one special hike, I will choose to instead focus on and enjoy the many times that I did get to spend creating special autumn moments, savoring yet another beautiful October! And the month isn’t over yet! Colorful leaves, frosty mornings, bright sunny days mixed with cloudy fresh rain, snow dustings in the mountains… October is amazing!