Hello November

Aloha friends!

I think Fall may have finally made its way here this past week. Maybe it’s the clear skies and breezy winds. Maybe it’s the temporary absence of humidity. Maybe it’s the ever so slight crispness in the air. Like Spring, Fall in Hawaii is fleeting. One moment the winds take a break and the blazing sun falling upon your skin makes it feel like summer again. The next sends a chill up your spine when thick clouds blot out the penetrating rays of the sun, shadowing the earth all around you, as the temperature sinks a few degrees. And while we don’t get snow here on our island, we do feel the need to don our winter-ish clothing when the numbers dip below 70 degrees, and the North winds chill our air.

I love Fall. It’s my favorite time of year.

And it’s HERE!

Maybe I’m biased since November is my birthday month. And in a way, I see November as a season of new beginnings. We shrug off the slumber of summer weather and long, lazy days, and we’ve gotten into the routine of the new school year. Halloween sneaks up on us and passes by so quickly we hardly knew it was even there. All that remains are bagfuls of candy and a scattering of pics left on Instagram and Facebook by #latepost-ers.

Then, my absolute favorite part of the year: Holiday Season! (Did I mention it’s here?? Did I mention it’s my favorite??)

Thanksgiving and Christmas bring together family and friends around a table of warm, sweet, and savory goodness. Laughter, singing, conversations. Little ones playing together. Grown ups reminiscing. I can’t wait for it all to begin.

Desperately, I try to hang onto every moment of this season as to not let it disappear in the blink of an eye. The next time we get to experience it again, we will all be a year older, with new experiences under our belt that have changed our thinking ever so slightly. The Holidays are never the same twice, and each one that passes is a once in a lifetime experience.

And so, friends, I welcome you to embrace, experience, and enjoy all that this upcoming holiday season has to offer you. May it be filled with laughter, love, and precious memories. May those days leading up to gatherings of friends and family fill you will excitement rather than stress and regret. May our hearts be filled with joy as we prepare to serve others and focus not on monetary gifts, but gifts of love and hope, forgiveness and reconciliation, happiness and togetherness. Traditions may have roots in many different places, but our heart knows the true meaning of the Holiday Season. Let us use it as a chance to build new relationships and strengthen old ones.

Let us use this season of Fall as an opportunity to rise.

Be blessed, my friends!

~Jenn