“The Autumn Leaves – drift by my window…” As the leaves turn and the temperature drops, is your autumn half full or half empty?
I have found through the years there are those who love the fall colors, brisk walks, Oktoberfests, hay rides and bonfires. Then there are those like my husband who see only the dying leaves, the extra coats and gloves to wear, the soon coming cold and brown of winter. Bah Humbug! I have to make him go for walks, pick apples, and drink cider as we toast to the beauty of autumn.
Last weekend was the Applefest in my hometown of Clarksville, Missouri. All around the world there are similar celebrations and I salute them all! Our weekend always is highlighted by our Class Reunions, which include all past classes since our small school began back in 1955. My husband chooses not to attend with me saying, “It’s the same thing every year! I have to sit and listen to people I don’t know talk about things I never experienced, and hear old stories followed by hysterical laughter I don’t understand.” So I don’t insist that he go with me; in fact, it’s more fun when I can run from table to table catching up with old friends and former classmates.
I realize not everyone loves life like I do. But this is somewhat of a second chance to experience the fullness of school years and autumns that I missed.
When I was a teenager I hated school, hometown celebrations of any kind, and ran away as often as I could. I especially dreaded having to trudge two blocks to church every Sunday morning; now I love the nostalgic walk. I see former Sunday School teachers and organists still there, and celebrate the meaning of Church that I didn’t grasp at the time.
Now, as a motivational speaker I love when I am invited to share my joie de vivre with audiences.
Next week I will be speaking in Springfield, Illinois on the topic “Laughter is the Best Medicine.” I have come to learn that when one’s heart is full of joy and gratitude, it is easy to find humor and delight in almost everything. Last week with my hometown friends, I especially joked about my past “escapades” that got me in trouble, because many of those lifelong friends were in cahoots with me.
When the folksong song “To Every Season, Turn, Turn Turn” reached the number one spot on The Hot 100 Chart in 1965, few people knew these were the oldest lyrics of any number one hit songs. The lyrics were actually authored by King Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under Heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant, a time to reap; a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to embrace and a time to refrain; a time to get and a time to lose, a time to keep and a time to cast away, a time to keep silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time of war and a time of peace.”
The older I get and the shorter life seems, the more I cherish every day.
I realize I am one of the few who still is blessed with active, relatively healthy 90 year-old parents. We all begin every day with gratitude, prayer and love for one another, and seek whom we can bless that day as we are not assured of tomorrow. I may have wasted the first “season” of my life, but I am determined the last one will be the best yet! It’s not how you begin the race, it’s how you end. No matter how your first season began, won’t you determine to join with me and cross the finish line with passion, love and joy? Your last season might also be your best!
Read more posts by Debra Peppers, Ph.D., here. Dr. Peppers blogs for JenningsWire.
The post is presented by the National Publicist, Annie Jennings of the NYC based PR Firm, Annie Jennings PR. Annie Jennings PR specializes in marketing books for getting authors booked on radio talk show interviews, TV shows in major online and in high circulation magazines and newspapers. Annie also works with speaker and experts to build up powerful platforms of credibility and influence.
