The Season of Change
Staying positive.
It’s an ongoing challenge these days, and like many of you, I am having a hard time looking at the glass as being half full rather than half empty.
I related in last month’s blog that I am a Libran, so I love this time of year. There’s something about fall, my birthday aside, that makes it special. It is when you notice the change of seasons. The fall equinox signals the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, the colors of the trees begin to change, and we start moving towards the holiday season and the end of the year. In 2020 especially, no one will argue if this year passes quickly!
Thinking of this time of transition, it made me wonder about what exactly autumn means, and why. And why we also call it fall. The Latin root meaning of autumn has connotations of the passing of the year, but it also has additional meanings, all of which are very apt during this time of crisis. The Germanic origin of fall means “to fall from a height” and we have certainly experienced this in 2020. But more encouraging and important to focus on is the meaning derived from England.
There, of particular significance, long before it was called autumn or fall, the third season of the year was referred to as harvest, to reflect the time of year when farmers would gather their crops and prepare them for winter storage.
The symbolism of this time of the year should not be overlooked or passed over in a rush to the final days of the year. Its meaning is worth more.
Before we write off this year, let’s focus on harvesting for the future. Yes, this year has been especially challenging and there is much we want to forget, but let’s not waste the learnings. Let’s focus on what can be and let’s not reflect upon this time with anger.
Instead of harvesting predictions, let’s harvest aspirations. Let’s harvest the fruits of the earth and do so with respect, rather than foraging our natural resources.
Instead of harvesting negativity, let’s harvest positivity. The seeds we plant today matter.
“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house.” ~Nathaniel Hawthorne
~ Greg Takehara, CEO, Tourism Cares
