Autumn is well-known and much-loved for all the magical things it bestows upon us, including dead leaves that we can crush on the sidewalk, pumpkin spice lattes, and a holiday where you can dress up in a fully body Hello Kitty suit and nobody is allowed to judge you (no further comment). And because autumn gives so much more than it takes, the weather finally ups its game by lowering the humidity and dropping the temperatures to a level that makes humans actually want to venture outside. I haven't cussed out the sun or made grand declarations to shave all my hair off in at least a month!
It makes sense, given the glory of autumn, that it is the most romantic of all the seasons. Not only are both men and women more fertile then, but the cold is driving people inside to have more sex, and women actually become more attractive to men in the fall (nothing like dead nature swirling around to make a girl's eyes pop?). But just because pop culture would have us believe that fall is the perfect time to couple-up and get busy falling in love doesn't mean you have to adhere to that cliche. In fact, I would argue that it's even better to be flying solo as the temperature drops. Just because you don't have a significant other doesn't mean that you can't revel in the romance of this season. There are plenty of reasons why autumn is the perfect time to fall in love – with yourself:
It's The Perfect Time To Find Your Passion
I've always considered autumn a much bigger inspiration than any New Year's resolution, and it makes sense because autumn is when everything starts back up again. If you're in school, you have a fresh start at a new semester and pursuing classes that are specifically interesting to you, and if you're out of school, community centers and gyms nearby are all starting up classes with a variety of offerings that might surprise you. Try something you've always wanted to try, whether it's a cooking class or a spinning class or something completely out of the realm of what you do normally. There is nothing more satisfying than reminding yourself of what you are capable of.
The Weather Is Irresistible
Autumn is a perfect time to take long, meandering walks by yourself to reflect on the things you are proud of and the things you hope to accomplish. There is something reflective and almost otherworldly about watching the sun stream through autumn leaves and feeling the wind in your hair. Take a few moments to appreciate how lucky you are to be who you are, and to get to experience this kind of beauty in the world while you're here.
There Are Fewer Summer Shenanigans
Summer is an amazing time to catch up with your friends, and odds are you spent a lot of it hanging out at barbecues, pools, and restaurant patios. It is a flurry of social interaction and fun, but now that it is over you have a lot more time to focus on yourself. You still get to see your friends, but you also have a lot of time to be the you that you are when there isn't any social pressure from people constantly around, and you might have forgotten just how much you like that version of yourself.
You're Staying Inside More In General
Which means that you can catch up on everything you've been meaning to do, and catch up on taking care of yourself. Take that long soak in the tub with candles, or read that book that you've been dying to read, or catch up on your DVR with a glass of wine. If you are going to fall in love with yourself, you've got to practice a little self-love first.
Autumn Is A Perfect Time To Travel
The weather is gorgeous almost anywhere you go, and something about the crispness of the air just begs for an adventure. Take a solo road trip, or book a flight to some place you've always wanted to go. Spend some time experiencing things and absorbing them in your own unique way, without input from anybody else, and write everything down. For years to come, you'll be able to look back on those experiences and appreciate the person that you are, somebody who was proactive and unafraid to enjoy something alone.
It's Also The Perfect Time To Volunteer
With the holidays just around the corner, there are so many worthy causes that are especially strapped for volunteers. You have the power to make a difference in someone's life every day. Volunteer for a local shelter, or get all your friends jazzed about a 5K for a charity that is important to you. The more you spread your love out in the world the more you are capable of feeling it in every facet of your life, including yourself.
NaNoWriMo Is A Great Opportunity To Learn About Yourself
National Novel Writing Month takes place during the entire month of November, and basically involves the commitment to write at least 50,000 words of a novel or other writing in that month. Why not challenge yourself to write something? It doesn't have to be a novel. Even just writing down your goals and your feelings or evaluating things that have happened to you so far this year will give you some perspective on how far you've come and all the exciting things that are up ahead. You have so much going for you, and this will be just one more reminder.
You Are Surrounded By People Who Love You
With autumn comes holidays like Thanksgiving, where you are surrounded by family and friends who love you, and show you the amazing capacity you have to love and be loved. There are so many people that love you for who you are. Make sure that you're one of them.
Images: Purple Sherbert/Flickr; Giphy (5)
