The article below was written for my local newspaper,
The Concord Monitor.

Dread

I used to dread fall. 

If I lived in some run-of-the-mill part of the country, you might shrug your shoulders or even agree with me. But how can a person live in New Hampshire and dread fall at the same time? Why dread fall when it’s one of the most stunning seasons ever (so striking, in fact, that it draws thousands of visitors every year just to see its beauty)? 

Well, because the very next season is winter. And when I use the word “season,” I don’t mean one-fourth of the year, but October to early June (you know, give or take a month; don’t pin me down on details here).

I love the summer. I love the heat. I love the plentiful lakes and beaches. I love being able to walk outside without putting on fifty layers or worrying about whether my boots are sufficiently waterproofed. So when the fall comes—despite the fact that it’s a stunning time of year—I always had a hard time viewing it as anything except a gateway to darkness and freezing my toes off.

I knew it was getting bad when I drove past a patch of brilliantly colored leaves one early fall day, pointed them out to my kids, and they all chorused out, “Oh, sad!” Hmph, wonder where they picked up on that attitude? Here I am, living in a place some people can only dream of visiting, but I’m too occupied with dread to enjoy it….and now it is spreading to my kids. 

 

Change

However, recently my attitude towards fall has changed and there’s one simple practice that has been the impetus. Can you guess what it is? Giving thanks. That’s it. And before you throw this aside as a scam or hoax, I’ll tell you how it happens. There I am, driving along and looking at the fall foliage when I start getting nervous about the upcoming winter season. I have a choice. I can either continue my inward moaning or I can start thanking God for the beauty around me. 

Even when the winter comes, I have the same choice. I can moan and groan about my perpetually cold feet, the increasing price of oil, or the fact that my southern friends are wearing shorts in March. Or I can look at the unique blessings God has given all around me and give thanks. What are these unique blessings, you ask? Here are a few of my favorites: enjoying hot tea without perspiring, using a literal fireplace (generating cozy vibes and actual warmth), wearing vests and scarves without producing obscene amounts of sweat, and baking all manner of delicious foods without the concern that I’m overheating the house.

“My worries about tomorrow’s problems
can cause me to completely miss
the beautiful moments of today.”

Gratefulness

As I thought about my attitude towards fall, I discovered a similar attitude in other areas of my life. Just as my winter worries inhibit my ability to appreciate the fall, my worries about tomorrow’s problems can cause me to completely miss the beautiful moments of today. But you know what I’ve discovered in this little experiment? I can’t complain and be thankful at the same time. The moment I take my eyes off my worries and lift them to the beauty around me, my perspective changes from dread to gratefulness. There are so many beautiful moments in our days, aren’t there? From the loveliness in nature to our delightful local shops to the people we pass on the sidewalks of downtown Concord, we are surrounded by opportunities to give thanks. 

“I can’t complain and be thankful
at the same time.”

So whether I encounter the fall foliage around me, the unique delights of winter, or you on my way to get coffee downtown, this year I’m practicing the habit of thankfulness to God who has given such good gifts to me—and it is changing my attitude for the better. Care to join me?