The glory of fall causes me to pause, catch my breath, and thank the Heavens for their majesty. Warm days with golden sunlight tease us into thinking that it might never end.
One of the last plants to flower in my garden, after the abundance of blossoms in summer, is a common and to some people, weedy sedum called Autumn Joy. During the summer, when the garden is showy and bright, Autumn Joy is plain and green. As bees bustle from daisies to Echinacea to poppies to columbine, the sedum stands alone without a flower in sight.
At the end of the season, as the daisy heads are covered with seed, the Echinacea has lost its luster and the poppies have died back, Autumn Joy takes the stage. Autumn Joy sedum bursts forth with beautiful heads of red, pink or orange flowers. It is often the last blossom standing in the garden. The bees cover the flowers, in a last minute attempt to gather nectar for the cold winter ahead. The red blossoms stand out, in a sea of brown and fading summer blooms.
When I see Autumn Joy in my garden, my heart lifts just a little, and I am reminded that even as fall bursts forth, life is not over. There is still blossoming to be done, not just by Autumn Joy, but also by me, and by everyone else.
Fall is not a time to prepare for the end, but a time to break into late blossom. It is never too late to blossom into the life you truly desire. Just like Autumn Joy, each one of us can grow and blossom in due time.
We live our lives, counting the passing years and mourning the days gone by. In youth, as in spring, we are filled with ambition and potential. We hardly note the passing of time as we leap forward into the possibilities of our lives ahead.
Productivity in later years, much like summer, is promising and enriching. Our lives take on a rich texture as we fill them with the things we think matter. We have families, we buy things, we glory in the abundance of the summer of life.
And finally autumn brings a time to slow down a bit, enjoy the fruits of our labor and reflect on the beauty of life around us.
But this time is not just for sitting back and basking in all that has happened. Some people are filled with dread, as they look toward the bleakness of winter, but there is still plenty of time to blossom into a new place, in the autumn.
Autumn Joy, the beauty of the late bloomer. We can all bloom where we are, whatever the circumstances. It is never too late to find a new calling, begin a new chapter, or emerge from the summer into the joy of autumn.
Wherever you are today, take a moment to enjoy the beauty of this place we call home. Notice the cool breeze, the glow of the afternoon light, and the shimmering golden leaves. Then, take a moment to notice the places in your own life where you can blossom. Let Autumn Joy serve as a reminder that it is never too late to bloom.
Namaste friends