My beginning of autumn, as the leaves turn and fall.

Our world will always be full of constant reminders of time, coming in the form of changes of growth and movements. I always feel the seasons are the most consequential of them all. 

Summer is undoubtedly my favorite season. From the sultry weather and colorful closets to the beach days and sunsets, it leaves me constantly ecstatic. However, by the time July approaches, the depression sets in that the season is rushing past, and once August arrives, the sacred time is down the drain. 

My summer always ends after the first week of August because of my packed schedule of dance and back-to-school tasks. The first few weeks of school, although technically in the summer season and typically filled with festival activities, feel less like summer but instead, as if it were already fall. 

My opinions on fall vary and are not as strong as mine on summer. I truly adore the days when it’s rainy, watching the vibrant orange and crimson trees melt together while cuddled in a bundle of plush blankets with a warm coffee, choosing from a variety of activities like watching Harry Potter, listening to calming music, reading a book, or even doing homework. There is just an aesthetic aspect to fall that differs from the other seasons. I am able to romanticize even the typically dull facets of my life.

Simultaneously, there are the less anticipated parts. The erratic weather is a heavy downfall. Even in the past few weeks, the temperature has fluctuated tremendously. One day, it’s 60 degrees and cloudy; the next, it’s 90 degrees and sunny. It’s inconsistent, and it’s hard to find outfits because it is unbelievably difficult to decide whether to wear summer or autumn clothing. There is also the commencement of school, which many, including myself, dread. I mainly detest it because of the responsibilities that come with it, like homework and sleep schedules that are forgotten about during the summer. 

The strenuous part of the change is the activities and moments that are left behind. I don’t want to be without driving to sunsets nightly, or staying up late. I don’t want to stop taking our boat out to Lake Michigan for another eight months. There are so many things I don’t want to leave behind; I could go on forever. Yet, I am faced with the fact that the changing schedules, weather, and my mindset keep me from doing things that are customary in summer, along with one other aspect. 

Time. 

Time is the worst of all the changes the seasons’ transitions bring.

The reality is that with every season, time is passing. Every leaf that turns new hues, every raindrop that falls, every pumpkin spice latte I drink is a sign of the time passing.