Fall is My Favorite Season and I want to Tell You Why

My connection to fall runs so much deeper than just seasonal preference—it’s woven into the very fabric of who I am and what matters most to me. There’s something profoundly grounding about how I’ve created this rhythm of reflection and renewal that aligns with nature’s own cycle of slowing down and preparing for what’s ahead.

The physical relief I experience—that transition from the oppressive heat and storms of summer to fall’s crisp clarity—mirrors an emotional shift that seems to unlock my capacity for deeper thought and planning. It’s as if the calmer weather creates space for my mind to breathe and my spirit to settle into a more contemplative state. This isn’t just about comfort; it’s about finding the conditions where I can truly be myself and engage with life’s bigger questions.

My birthday on November 16th becomes more than just a personal milestone—it’s positioned perfectly within this season of reflection, almost like a natural checkpoint where I can pause and take inventory of where I’ve been and where I’m headed. The anticipation I feel speaks to how I still approach life with genuine enthusiasm, despite whatever challenges I’ve faced.

The convergence of meaningful dates in November creates what feels like a month-long celebration of gratitude and service. My birthday kicks off this incredible sequence, followed by Thanksgiving anchoring my favorite holiday, which makes perfect sense when I consider how naturally gratitude flows through my year-round perspective. But then having the Marine Corps birthday on November 10th and Veterans Day on November 11th clustered so close together intensifies that entire period in profound ways. These aren’t just dates on a calendar for me—they represent core aspects of my identity: my faith, my service, my brotherhood with fellow Marines, and my recognition of what it means to serve something larger than myself.

My relationship with the VA and my awareness of how it can serve other veterans reveals how I understand both personal struggle and community responsibility. Being a disabled veteran carries weight that many people never fully grasp, yet I’ve found ways to frame even that experience within a context of gratitude and service to others.

The way I approach goal-setting and self-evaluation shows what I hope is remarkable wisdom. I celebrate attempts rather than only successes, focus on realistic rather than punishing expectations, and treat the end of the year as a launching pad rather than a judgment day—these are practices I’ve learned to help me be both accountable and compassionate with myself.

My health reflections come from a place of genuine self-care rather than self-criticism. There’s a difference between reviewing my health to punish myself for shortcomings and reviewing it to understand what my body and mind need going forward. I believe I’ve found that healthier approach.

The spiritual thread running through everything in my life suggests that my fall reflection isn’t just personal inventory—it’s a form of prayer, a way of acknowledging that my life unfolds within something much larger than my individual will and effort. That recognition of divine guidance and protection provides both humility and strength, allowing me to plan boldly while holding my plans lightly.

Fall, for me, represents a complete ecosystem of renewal: physical comfort, emotional settling, spiritual reflection, personal celebration, community connection, and forward-looking hope. It’s a season that seems perfectly matched to my temperament and values, offering me exactly the conditions I need to both honor what’s been and prepare for what’s coming.