Seasons.

I’m sitting in my apartment wrapped in a blanket, eating leftover potato soup and drinking wine, my Slakin and Co. Leaves candles burning. Does it really matter if it’s only 70 degrees outside? There’s still a slight chill in the air, so I’m good, right?

When seasons mark themselves in such a defined way, it’s hard not to feel the seasons in your life changing as well. In August, I felt an inherent urge to rid my apartment of everything I essentially didn’t need in preparation for the new school year, for the fall, for the harvest. Two Saturdays in a row, I literally destroyed my apartment for the sake of cleansing my living space. I got rid of clothes, shoes, clutter, things that sat around but aren’t being used (anyone want to buy a printer?),  and anything else you could think of. I rid my freezer, the cabinet under the bathroom sink, my extra storage closet. And then I looked around, promised myself I would make my bed every day, and settled into the couch to watch You’ve Got Mail.

Fall has always been my favorite season. Although summer comes in a close second, there’s something about the way that fall makes me feel. New school clothes, a chill in the air, Halloween decorations slowly going up, seasonal drinks at Starbucks, and anything else you can think of. Sometimes I feel like it signals a fresh start, another chance to make memories in the season.

This season of my life as a post grad has been a weird one. Earlier this year, I was so focused on losing weight and getting in shape that along the way I sometimes forgot to live. I’m such an extreme person, it’s hard for me to balance and prioritize the things in my life. So when summer hit, and I was comfortable enough to let loose, I went all the way. Everyone has that summer that they will remember for the rest of their lives. I mean, 2012 was no 2009, but it was close. I had a lot of fun.

So when the pools closed and everyone on the patios moved their drinking inside, I was left with a question. What do I want out of life? Where is my career heading? Why can’t I date a guy that’s NOT a total jerk? All of these questions swimming around in my head and no one to answer them.

All that I know is that with a new season comes new opportunities, new experiences, and a new set of memories to make. Bring it on fall, I’m ready for you.

Mal xoxo