Hints of Autumn

A sudden hint of crispness returns to the air all around... the smells are different... one begins to hear the crunching sounds of fallen leaves as they walk along a cool and serenely quiet neighborhood street... yes, Autumn has returned.

For me, the Autumn is always a time of introspect... of reviewing the year's events and coming to terms with all that I have learned about myself and the world around me and then accepting those into who I am... and letting them mold me into the person I am now... and will be tomorrow.

This year however, is a bit different... along with the reminiscing of moments passed comes an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for all the little things that I absolutely love about my life. All the little things, that, although may not mean anything to you or the next person... are absolutely everything to me.

On a deeper level though, there is an ever growing gratitude for all of the people that I am lucky enough to call friends and family. The select few amazing and wonderful beings that have blessed my life with being a part of it... whether you have known me for longer than I can even remember or have only entered it recently, my hope for you this fall is that you know who you are and realize just how important you are to me.

On another note... I find it interesting that moments of my past seem to come back to the front of my mind... although just glimmers of a life that, for the most part, seems nothing more than a distant memory.

The haunting remains of emotions for the family that once was... for the parents whose approval I valued more highly than one ever should... and yet... even after all these years, I still find myself hoping that one day they would find it within their hearts to be happy for the person I have become... for the woman, the sister, the daughter, and the mother that I am today, right here... and right now... for it is for them that I find myself most grateful for being the parents I needed to rise above the norm... step out of the person I thought I should be... and to have the courage to be all that I am to the small world around me.

I am grateful to you all... and I wish that you all have a safe and wonderful Autumn filled with all of the love, magic and wonder that may come.

Much love,

Gwen