PSA: It's okay to like fall

Humans are an odd lot. We want to fit in with the group and stand out. We don't want to be just like everyone else, but we also don't want people to think we're weird.

Fall is a season that reveals this oddity. The season of fall hits, and the social media posts come out in droves. Posts and pictures about the leaves, the fun fall activities, new recipes, and of course, the fall décor.

Amidst the leaves, three main groups emerge:

1. The fall lovers (These are the people who are constantly posting fall pics, and there's suspicion about how much of it is real.)
2. The people annoyed by the fall lovers
3. The people who try to split the difference so that they can avoid the "fall lover" stereotype label.

There are people going all in with their fall pics and others scoff at them because it seems too over the top and fake. And then there's the person just wondering if she should post that pic of leaves that she took the other day or not.

Should she give into the stereotype? Is it worth it?

Here's the thing: I LOVE fall.

The sweltering heat has finally ended, replaced by a delicious cool. There's the days of rain that soothe my soul, where every splash of color is drenched in the cleansing water. Then there are the days full of dappled shade, crisp breezes, and glorious sunshine.

Colorful leaves. Warm cups of coffee or hot apple cider. Curling up under a warm blanket with a good book on a rainy afternoon. Apple picking and baking pies. Wearing comfy jeans, fun boots, and sweaters.

It's a pause before the busyness of Christmas starts. People take a moment to be thankful for their blessings. It's a time to appreciate the simpler things in life, like good food and time with the people you love. I want to jump in with both feet and enjoy the season.

When I become afraid of what other people may think of this enthusiasm, I am reminded of something important:

Enthusiasm is better than looking cool.

I was recently watching a breakdown from Charisma on Command, and in the video, Charlie brings up an important point:

"Sometime around middle school, it becomes cool to be jaded and bored. It becomes a sign that you are cooler than whatever is happening around you...Once middle school ends, we are drawn to people who have a passion for life, who get excited about the little things, not those people who are too cool to be around."

We somehow think it's cooler to be the person who makes fun of people liking fall than it is to be that person who embraces autumn with abandon. But is it cooler? Or have we just bought into the need to feel accepted by others?

Aren't the people actively engaging in something they find enjoyable having way more fun than the jaded person scoffing at them?

Turn off your phone and don't care what other people think

I won't pretend this is original, because I saw it in a meme. But this is your gentle reminder that there are only so many good things in this world. So, if there's something good that you enjoy, don't worry about other people judging you for liking it.

It genuinely doesn't matter if other people like that thing or not. You like it. So, maybe turn off your phone for a bit and enjoy the season, activity, or hobby that makes you smile. The self-consciousness can be exacerbated by social media. It's easy to edit our lives and focus on our online image. But the experience itself is more important than posting about it for everyone else to see.

Enjoy your pumpkin spice coffee even if there are people who think pumpkin spice is lame. Wear your flannels and go apple picking. Put on your favorite pair of jeans, make tea, and read a book. Breathe in the crisp fall air and pick up those beautiful leaves. Burn a vanilla-scented candle. It's okay to like it.

Here's to wishing everyone a wonderful autumn. May you truly take time to savor the precious moments that the season has to offer. Like it for all the fantastic opportunities that it brings. Everybody else can think whatever they want to think.

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