Alternate:Words

A time of reflection, originally uploaded by Thorsten Becker.

I am glad it is autumn again and I honestly wouldn’t mind if it lasted a few weeks longer than it usually does. I know that many people battle with depression this time of the year and they have my deepest sympathy. It can be a very lonely time, a time in between, between the life and lifelines of summer and the cold deathlike slumber of winter. At home (Hannover) as well as my home of choice (New Hampshire) autumn is usually grey and rainy but also very colorful for a short time, when all the leaves change and the foliage explodes in all shades of red, orange, yellow and brown. It is a time of strong contrasts but muted colors. I find that things often quiet down a bit, nothing appears as loud as it was in the months before. And this is what I personally enjoy about it – this winding down, calming down, this time to go inwards again, time to think, re-think, evaluate and also consider my life. It is a time of reflection, of puddles in the streets and on the trails framed with withered leaves, of grey sky mirrored within, of sitting on a slightly damp park bench in a warm cozy coat looking out at the drizzle and mist over a local park. I think it is important to feel a sense of loss at times to appreciate what we have. If we always have all the things we need we tend to take them for granted and our appreciation may fade. And while I admittedly find it appealing to live in a climate that is always sunny and where the flowers are always in bloom I would definitely miss fall. I don’t consider myself a particularly melancholy person but I do like to experience this feeling in its own time and space. Even when I went through sad times I still enjoyed autumn, almost as if nature (and in a more encompassing spiritual sense God) was showing compassion towards my own predicament. And during pleasant times I find autumn to be a reminder to stop, think and reflect on what I have and what others may not have so that I can give or at the very least show compassion from my side. In all cases and under all circumstances I find this to be a special time of the year, a time of reflection.