The Beauty Of Fall
“There is something so special in the early leaves drifting from the trees – as if we are all allowed a chance to peel, to refresh, to start again.”
Image credit @philhenryproductions
I readily admit it: Fall is my favorite time of the year. Friends thrive in year-round summer weather and never miss the changing seasons. But I need autumn. Autumn takes little effort; for me, it’s a time of respite and reflection, a time to catch up with myself, be more mindful, and breathe easier. I find it’s easier when I’m not suffocating when it’s 105 degrees in the shade or freezing at 30 degrees below zero.
One could see autumn as depressing when the grass and flowers wither, and the golden leaves are gone. But I experience the season as a hopeful reminder that change is ever present because if everything remained the same, there would never be an opportunity “to refresh, to start again.” The trees know that holding on to their exquisite leaves would not allow for their new growth in the spring. The trees remind me that holding on to past grievances or current worries won’t allow me the growth I need and want and that there’s always the opportunity to start again.
In Journal of a Solitude, May Sarton writes, “I think of the trees and how simply they let go, let fall the riches of a season, how without grief (it seems) they can let go and go deep into their roots for renewal and sleep.” Most view spring as the time of renewal, but the trees tell us that fall is also a renewal time – a time for sleep, rest, and preparation.
I’ve been thinking about the commonalities between the fall season and the vagus nerve. Do you know anything about the vagus nerve? I didn’t, but I’m learning and fascinated by the connection between our emotional and physical states and this longest and most complicated of the body’s 12 cranial nerves. The vagus nerve carries signals from the brain to organs like the heart, lungs, and stomach. Consequently, it impacts inflammation levels, digestion, heart rate, blood pressure, and emotional responses. The coolest part is that we control how our vagus nerve performs, and one of the ways we do that is by concentrating on our breathing.
Many integrative therapies have a component focusing on breathing exercises, emphasizing the value of taking slow, deep breaths. Why? Because they stimulate the vagus nerve resulting in a lower heart rate, lower blood pressure, improved pain management, and a feeling of well-being and resilience, to name a few of the benefits. Author Caren Osten Gerszberg points out that slow, deep breathing “signals to the body that it is in a state of calm. It can now rest and digest, tend and befriend,” resulting in a “profound impact on our sense of safety and connection.” Deep breathing also impacts our thoughts because when we’re focused on our breathing, we’re not focused on our stressors. In addition to deep breathing, several modalities (yoga and meditation, for example) can improve one’s “vagal tone.”
Autumn is when nature relaxes from the heat of the summer and prepares for winter, confident of the rebirth to come. Stimulating the vagus nerve allows us to direct our bodies and minds to a calm state, enjoy the moment, and prepare for difficult days that may come, confident we can do so.
“Imitate the trees,” says May Sarton. “Learn to lose in order to recover, and remember that nothing stays the same for long... Sit it out. Let it all pass. Let it go.” The beauty of fall has many lessons for us as it’s a time to let go of what isn’t helpful, refresh, recover, reflect, and prepare to start again.
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