Instagram has become a flurry of early pumpkin spice lattes and apple-scented candles the past few weeks. August 1 hit, and people were ready to slide right into fall. On one hand, I get it. I hate hot weather. I’m not built for 90-degree beach days. I have friends and family, particularly further South, where kids have been back in school for weeks. Autumn is a wonderfully cozy season.
But I also hate the idea that we’re rushing one season to get to the next.
It’s akin to how some people fall victim to always wishing one phase of life away to get to the next. In high school, they can’t wait to get to college. In college, they can’t wait to get a real job and adult apartment. In their early twenties, they just want to rush to get married. There’s no living in the moment — it’s always, what’s next?
And that’s what this wishing away of the seasons feels like. I totally understand being excited about what’s coming down the pike. There’s definitely value in the anticipation. But forgetting to enjoy what we have in the present seems like a mistake.
Throughout August, I tried to lean in as much as possible to summer. There were weekends away at classic summer resorts, a family vacation, afternoons at the pool, boat days, and heirloom tomatoes. I even tried to do little things like only drink summery coffees and wear coral-red nails.
I woke up today, on September 3, to a welcomed chill in the air. Summer’s still here for a few more weeks, but there is a post-Labor day shift that happens, and I’m okay with starting to transition into fall at this point. But I like to think of these few weeks as more of a fresh start than a rapid move into fall. There’s an embrace of this in-between time. It’s when I put away the summer prints and burn candles that have a clean vanilla scent. These are the days when I feel motivated to charge through new to-do lists and make plans for the upcoming months. I’ll start to welcome in shorter days and more time in the kitchen.
And, come October 1, I’ll be ready to fully dive into all things pumpkin, spice, and spooky season. Until then, however, I’m not going to wish away these days. You’ll find me right here, enjoying sunny September afternoons and slow mornings with a hot cup of coffee and a nostalgic back-to-school motivation.
