For some, fall is the season they like best. The changing colors, the holidays around the corner, and the comforts of cozy sweaters beckon us to embrace fall and the reassuring traditions it offers. With the outward changes of the fall season, there are three moods that fall represents for me. These moods teach me lessons about the seasons of life.

1. The fall season takes us “back-to-school.” Our schedules change from the vacation mode of the summer months to a structured and focused routine in the fall. We understand that fall is a time to embark on a new journey of growth and productivity.

2. In fall, it is time for the harvest. Both agriculturally and socially, we reap the fruits of the previous year. We head to apple orchards and drink cider. It reminds us that each seed we sow, each investment we make, has a season when it is ripe for the picking.

3. Fall leads us to winter. In the fall, trees prepare to go dormant in the cold winter months and flocks of birds head south to escape the coming snow. Fall is a time of preparation for what lies ahead – to fill the storehouses and be ready for a time of lack. Seeds don’t grow in the winter and even the sun doesn’t shine as much. Fall signals winter is coming and urges us to settle in front of the fireplace to wait it out.

In the fall season, we can enjoy the colorful landscapes and crisp morning air. Hopefully, we can also spend some time reflecting on the moods of the season and the life lessons they teach. If we listen carefully, we can almost hear them whisper in the crunch of fallen leaves.

Share your thoughts on fall in the comments. What does the fall season mean to you? What lessons have you learned?