Fall is finally here, and I could not be more excited for one of my favorite times of the year. I grew up on Saipan, a U.S. territory without seasons that has some of the most consistently warm temperatures in the world. The crunching leaves, crisp air, and beautiful colors of autumn have always captivated me. I associate fall with feelings of comfort and a distinct sense of togetherness. Here, I go into four of the things I love most about fall:
As the weather cools down and the sweaters pile on, snuggling under a toasty blanket with some hot chocolate becomes more and more appealing. Although it’s easy to miss the long days of summer, the earlier sunsets of fall can lead to quieter moments of joy. As the outside world becomes colder and darker, spending quality time with the people you love indoors becomes more and more common. For me, autumn has always been characterized by warm homemade dinners spent laughing with relatives and board game nights with friends. On a free night, I recommend gathering housemates and taking advantage of fall’s coziness: grab a blanket, make some popcorn, and binge a new Netflix original.
2. The Holidays
Halloween offers the chance to don costumes, overdose on candy, and carve spooky jack-o-lanterns. Seeing little kids trick-or-treating in carefully planned costumes always brings me back to fond memories of my elementary school Halloween parties spent running around with friends as a Disney princess (usually Belle). Soon after, Thanksgiving ushers in the holiday season with warmth, love, and a tasty meal. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it encourages us to reflect on what we’re grateful for and share it with the people who matter the most to us. Last year was one of the first Thanksgivings I got to spend with extended family (as a result of growing up so far away), and I had so much fun spending time with people I love but don’t see very often.
3. The Food
A hallmark of autumn is its wide array of warm, comforting, and mouthwatering dishes. As a lifelong vegetarian, it’s not the Thanksgiving turkey I look forward to but classics like gooey mac and cheese, creamy mashed potatoes, and a slice of apple pie straight from the oven. Food brings people together, whether that means baking pumpkin snickerdoodles with roommates, gathering for a meal with friends, or enjoying a carefully planned Thanksgiving dinner with the whole family. Autumn unites two of my favorite things: quality food and quality time spent with the people I care about.
4. Sweater Weather
It’s finally time to break out the sweaters, scarves, and leather booties. Cooler temperatures mean it’s time to exchange the summer uniform of tank tops and shorts for layers on layers—my favorite fall look is a fuzzy sweater tucked into a jean skirt paired with some knee-high boots and a leather jacket. Another favorite: cozy plaid or holiday themed pajamas. During fall, I throw on a pair of fluffy socks or lined slippers the second I get home to avoid cold floors and feet.
Fall is truly a wonderful season. Never getting the chance to experience a true fall growing up has only made me appreciate it more. Even during this strange time, fall is still an opportunity for fun outfits, tasty food, modified holidays, and togetherness in new forms. Enjoy it.