For 31 days in October, I always feel like my life is on pause. This month stands out in stark contrast to every other month, and it feels as if all of humanity was plopped onto another planet that moves at half our normal speed—but also spreads love at double our normal allowance.
The air is perfectly crisp and the sky looks like a new blue, becoming even brighter in contrast to the array of oranges, yellows and reds. Everything is wrapped in a bubble wrap of falling leaves and hot lattes. And of course, people look more lovable when they’re bundled under layers and layers of clothing.
This is my official love letter to the month of October. This month is utterly perfect, and here’s why:
October Doesn’t Tell You How to Feel
My favourite part about October is how it welcomes in a diverse range of emotions without any judgement at all.
In summer, you almost feel an obligation to be happy. The weather is perfect, your school commitments have disappeared, and you’re finally free. Yet between all this newfound free time and good weather, it can be difficult to feel authentically happy. The happiness of summer almost feels like a veil for your sadness, as if there’s this unwritten pressure to make this time in the hot sun enjoyable.
But October is different. The weather is colder, the nights are longer, and it feels more socially acceptable to spend the day in bed doing absolutely nothing. When October comes, you have full permission to feel everything and anything. You have permission to slow down and just be.
October is Predictable
I love apple picking more than anything and I’m sure I’m not alone in this. Apple picking is one of those classic fall activities that gives both two-year-olds and 20-year-olds the same joy. There’s something so pure about the drive to the apple orchard, picking the best apples whilst sneaking some extras into your pocket (and your stomach), and making the most incredible apple crumble after the sleepy drive home.
Whether your favourite fall activity is going to a haunted house, dressing up for Halloween, watching the salmon run down the river, carving pumpkins, or anything else, there’s great comfort to be found in the fact that our favourite fall activities remain consistent.
Fall experiences are forever unchanging and it feels as if nothing can take this stability and comfort away.
October Fosters Self-Reflection
The essence of fall fosters reflection. It’s a melancholic time where childhood nostalgia and the ghosts of past Octobers come together. You reflect not only on the version of yourself last October, but on the version of yourself in all past Octobers.
October brings us towards the final stretch of the year and serves as the perfect time to pause and reflect on how much you’ve grown as a person—or how much growing you still have to do.
There’s still enough time for you to make a change before the new year, yet enough time has passed in the year for you to start analyzing your successes and shortcomings.
To me, there’s truly nothing better than a good moment of self-reflection and I highly recommend you take advantage of this pivotal time in the year to curl up with your journal on a rainy October night.
October is the Season of Taylor Swift
I think we can all agree that Taylor Swift owns October. Taylor released her first album “Taylor Swift” in October 2006, her album “Speak Now” in October 2010, her album “Red” (not Taylor’s version) in October 2012, her album “1989” in October 2014 and is set to release her new album “Midnights” on this coming October 21st.
In addition to releasing album after album in October, Taylor’s music is perfect for capturing the magical essence of the fall.
Taylor Swift owns October and this is a good enough reason in itself for declaring my love for the month.
October has been my favourite time of the year for as long as I can remember. Most of the things you like when you’re little change. Yet as I’ve grown, both into myself and out of old habits, my love for October remains constant.