Once you start writing articles like these then you kind of get locked in to having to do interesting stuff all the time.  That’s not the worst thing that can happen to a person, but sometimes I do feel the pressure of recruiting partners in crime and trying to schedule everything in.

I had tickets to the fall light display at Newfields.  I invited my friend who shared my Mardi Gras adventure (with associated vehicle mishap) so I shouldn’t have been surprised by an evening of inclement weather.  I heard her muttering something about having to get dragged to an outdoor event in the rain because I needed material for my blog.  

I couldn’t be upset because she’s not wrong.  I guess that’s the chance you take when you buy tickets in advance.  After that was the Irvington Halloween festival, with a record 85,000 people in attendance.  I was amazed by the cleverness of so many of the costumes, as well as the dedication it took to put them together.

The next day was a trip to the Jazz Kitchen for the Spooky Nights show.  A week later it was back to the art museum for the  immersive art experience known as the LUME, which Mom thoroughly enjoyed.  Then another jazz show, this time with a friend whose superpower is color-coordinated outfits.  (Contrast with me who was wearing all black and still didn’t match.)

The point here is that the busy time of year used to be “The Holidays,” in which you had to pack in a bunch of annual activities.  Now we have added required seasonal events to create “Pumpkin Spice” season.  Prior to that, there are months of outdoor festivals I must attend.  Before which are festivities for St. Patrick’s Day.  Pretty much the only time of year I don’t have anything going on is around Valentine’s Day.  Make of that what you will.

But all this running around for several weeks meant I missed the leaves turning.  Some trees changed so quickly that within a few days they were bare, after which even the pretty colors on the ground were mulched or hauled away.  If I didn’t pack my schedule as full as I pack a lunch bag, I could have spent more time outside during my favorite season.

I am pleased that I did stop and watch some spectacular sunsets.  I also noticed the moon that looked like it was full for three days straight.  I forced myself to get up early enough for the lunar eclipse—talk about an autumn light show!

Speaking of light, here is where I insert my public service announcement about how bad Daylight Saving Time is for our bodies and minds.  We finally “fall back” into what should be the normal time but that hour difference is such an abrupt change that when it gets dark at 5:15 pm it feels like we’re living in a Charles Dickens novel.

Anyway, sometimes boredom can be a good thing.  When having fun ends up being yet more entries on your to do list then something is out of kilter.  Eliminating much of the frantic activity in your life can give you insights into what’s important.  Sometimes you get rid of a time commitment only to realize you don’t miss it at all.

Conversely, a bit of breathing room in your schedule can bring clarity to what is lacking.  You’ll have time to notice what needs to be added.  When you’re constantly rushing around, you don’t get an opportunity to reflect.  Maybe we should carve out a “Thinking Season” in our lives.