Happy Fall Equinox!
I can’t express how ecstatic I am for fall.
Autumn is a precious time for me because it is a season of contemplation, goal setting, and resetting. Even though it’s the busiest season for me, it’s also lively with precious colors, hearty food, and crisp, comfortable weather. Despite some personal challenges, my worries and concerns for the goings-on in my life will continue to be labeled as distractions keeping me away from my ultimate goals and purposes. In this case, it is writing.
Autumn is my ultimate Memento Mori, reminding me that death is an essential life experience, but that in the colors it grants, comes opportunity for reflecting on the finite time we have in the world. There is no room for persistent negativity. This time is better spent changing the dynamics around us: be more understanding; be more empathetic; be more courageous; be more giving; be more artistic. It is okay to be melancholy and angry at the world, but it is also important to shift one’s mindset into action and become the positive change one wants to see. If terrible relationships are what one sees, be the spectacular friend, lover, and family member. If destruction of the wilds is what one sees, be the steward of the wealds.
I recently had a disheartening encounter with a close family member who enjoys belittling others (he made unsolicited insults about a bridesmaid at a wedding we went to—which were indirectly insulting to me as well), and after thoroughly defending the integrity of this perfectly wonderful young lady, it had me think about how unpleasant it must be to live in a mind of shallowness and persistent negativity. Life is definitely too short to be speculating horrid (and wrong) things about people one knows nothing about.
He was once an artist—and I say once because he was at one point passionate about music and writing. I’ve grown up and watched him shift from honing his craft to freely giving his mind away to algorithms and Learning Language Models. The transformation of his art and perspectives was terribly stunning as they became soulless shadows. He wonders why he is so uninspired, and why his music and writing has decayed in quality and soul. I can conjecture several reasons, but rotting critical thinking and the refusal to work without artificial prompts are definitely symptoms.
We should not aspire to live as he does, stewing in hatred and dislike because miserable others told us to. We should not be hypocritical, complaining of others when we are the problem. Autumn is our reminder that such thinking wastes time. We should prefer to create and share and inspire, rather than tear down, break away, and smash.
This autumn, we must be reminded of the impermanence of time and the importance of thinking for oneself.
Spend them wisely. Cherish them kindly. Love what is good, learn from what is evil.
This season, I refuse to let evil paralyze what I can do in the moment. I hope you do as well.
