We have cycles and seasons in life. We have sunny days; we have rainy days. We have dry season; we have wet season.

In the United States and other North American and European countries, and some parts of Asia, we have winter, spring, summer, and fall or autumn. We have snowy days; we have sizzling hot, humid summer weather in which we enjoy outdoor life so much with those summer activities and fest events. Then, we have mild temperature that requires us not to turn on our centralized AC or heater. That means we’re free to open up our windows, with or without screen, and let the fresh air come in. And then comes the bitter cold, chilly, and snowy winter which requires us to wear our thick, but comfortable, jackets and coats and mittens and scarves. Our winter heating bills certainly go up, while our income remains frozen like icicles dangling on our rooftops and sticking to branches of trees.

And then after the celebrations of Christmas and New Year and the remaining months of winter comes springtime! That is, everything starts to come out again: leaves of trees sprouting, flowers starting to bloom. The sun begins to smile and send its warmth again. And, thus, our life undergoes renewal, revival, and rejuvenation.

Now, it’s undoubtedly autumn, my friends! That means that our days are getting shorter, gray and wet at times, while our nights are longer and colder, inviting to romance and deep relaxing slumber. The temperature is mild to cold and breezy with early morning mist or fog.

On the other hand, we observe the leaves of most trees are starting to fall or have started falling. Some have started to change colors from green to orange to gold or yellow to brown to red. All of these are fall colors. To see the foliage this season in some mountainous areas of Virginia is such a moving, overwhelming experience, truly a fantastic journey, and a real treat for hikers, mountaineers, and the nature-lovers in all of us, I believe. I’ve seen them before and I’ll see them again.

Yes, I can hardly wait to witness this foliage in the coming weekends when we visit our college students for the traditional family weekend celebration at UVA in Charlottesville. I tell you it’s such a relief to be around these trees with their leaves so clear and beautiful. It’s truly a magnificent feeling to be out there appreciating and admiring the beauty of nature in fall colors. It is, believe me, a refreshing feeling to be out there in the open enjoying the serenity and beauty of these trees coloring our hills and mountains green. What an amazing feeling! Thank God for these trees.

Let’s take time to be out there doing walking, stretching, jogging or biking, or other forms of simple physical conditioning while enjoying the fall foliage! Take care and until next time!