Here's to the View

Ah, September.

Its air of change sweeps across today lightly but tangibly, with the slight morning chill and the leaves that, too soon, are showing their altered colors. Yet it also settles into place carrying a certain familiarity of the same old same old, of the schedules looming busy and full as ever on the calendar and in the rush of "I can't keep up..."

September has always been my favorite month, with birthdays and apples and mums and the fullness of fall fruit after a long summer's growth. There's the presence of the routine that follows transition. There's the not-too-hot-but-not-too-cold comfort of being; the ushering in of fall in a slow-motion rolling out of the carpet, moving ever forward but never too drastic. I'm not one for extremes, I need stability and reliability to temper all the change; so I think my month of in-between with gradual shifts suits me perfectly.

But ohhhh the calendar, so full of commitments and non-September-worthy events this year that have been doing a number on my peace of mind. There's some fun tucked into it. But also some doozies. Some major stressors. Some guilt triggers. Not counting, of course, all the unscheduled ups and downs and changes that will inevitably fill that white space.

I was lamenting to my ever-wise confidant (and mother) about some of these undesirable events on the calendar--like training that requires me to leave my family--and the frustrations such events have already wrought. As she listened to me vent, she slipped in the thought that even though my training won't exactly be a vacation, she hoped it would be a chance for me to regroup, bring a positive change of pace from my normal routine, and that maybe I could even enjoy a few moments to myself.

She's right. I think I often see the undesireable moments as far more intimidating than they have to be, and I forget that I can plan in some moments of happiness too. Yes, the tough moments will arrive. They might even be as hard as I've imagined. But they will also pass. (Right along with the loveliest, most joyous and anticipated moments).

It reminds me of that simple wisdom from a silly children's tale that still echoes in my mind and bears more and more truth in my adult years: Can't go over it. Can't go under it. Oh no! We've got to go through it! ...So we might as well embrace it and make the best of it. 

There might even be some unexpected moments of grace and meaning thrown in before we move on.

I'm telling myself that whether it's September or one of the 11 other months, life will keep marching on, and I get to keep marching with it. So I'll pray that the change this month holds is tempered with extra peace, and the grades are a little more gradual than they might appear when looming ahead of me, and I'll hope that the views along the way add more moments of beauty and gratitude than anticipated. Either way, when it's time to go through it, I might as well enjoy the view--and potential adventure--while I can.

So even though a small part of me still wants to groan, "wake me up when September ends," you're still my favorite month, September...at least for now. 

Here's to the view.