Autumn in Iowa offers something truly magical. The trees save their best wardrobe for last, showing off brilliant shades of red, orange, yellow and gold before surrendering to winter. Everyday drives become scenic tours, backyards become paintings, and leaf-covered sidewalks become reminders that Mother Nature certainly knows how to make an exit.
Of course, autumn also means raking. Lots of raking. I often wonder how a tree that looked full yesterday can manage to dump 36 million leaves on my lawn overnight. But, there is a beauty in those falling leaves that goes far beyond the colors.
As the leaves loosen their grip on the branches, they remind us that sometimes we need to let go, too. We hold on to old grudges, disappointments, worries and things that happened years ago. We replay conversations, regret decisions and carry burdens that no longer serve us. We hang on because letting go feels like we may be losing something.
Yet, the trees show us that letting go can be beautiful. The leaves don’t cling forever. They release their hold, trusting the wind to take them wherever it goes.
There is a deeper and more sobering comparison here, too. Like those leaves, our lives are temporary. We arrive, grow, change and eventually leave this world. We spend so much time trying to control what happens along the way that we sometimes forget to appreciate the journey.
I find comfort in watching a leaf detach from a branch and dance through the air. It twists, tumbles, rises and falls. For a brief moment, it seems less like something dying and more like something celebrating.
I hope when it is our time to go that we can dance in the wind like the falling leaves do. I hope we can release our grip on this world with gratitude for the time we had, the people we loved, the laughter we shared and the memories we leave behind. I hope we can face the inevitable with a little grace, a little courage and maybe even a little smile.
That’s a wonderful thought to ponder while walking through a neighborhood ablaze with autumn colors. It is also a thought that can be interrupted rather abruptly by a sneeze. Because, for all its beauty, autumn has a frustrating side. The same season that gives us breathtaking scenery also delivers ragweed, mold spores and airborne irritants that turn us into walking tissue dispensers. My eyes water. My nose runs. My sneezes frighten squirrels out of the trees I am admiring.
Contemplating the mysteries of life can be challenging when I am searching for an antihistamine.
Still, I wouldn’t trade autumn. Its beauty, its lessons and even its irritating little reminders that we are not in charge of everything make it special.
So, take a moment today to enjoy the fall colors. Forgive someone. Release a worry. Appreciate the people beside you. And when a leaf lets go and dances past your face, take a moment to watch it. Just keep a tissue handy.
Have a memorable Monday, and thanks for reading. | 
