The End of Summer Is Here but Gratitude Makes It Deeply Poignant
Carrying summer’s sweetness forward into the quiet of autumn.
If this piece resonates with you, I’d love for you to like, comment, and restack. Your reflections help carry these words farther than I ever could alone. And thank you, truly, for taking the time to read. I know the world moves quickly, so when you pause here with me, it creates a little pocket of peace and reflection I don’t take for granted.
There's no denying it.
The popsicles melt faster, the days shorten, and the blooms fade. And just like my grandkids tugging at my hand, the end of summer pulls us forward whether we're ready or not.
To my 1-year-old grandsons, every season is brand new territory. Their days shine with the wonder of so many firsts.
My 10-year-old granddaughter downplays her excitement about starting 5th grade, even though I know she's thrilled about being a bus safety patrol and a student in the highest grade at her elementary school.
And me?
I used to cling to summer. Now I welcome its ending. I live in a beach town, and I'm happy to see the tourists go and the reclamation of our quiet neighborhood.
It’s also crystal clear with every birthday that I don't have an endless number of seasons left. Why not dig in and embrace them all?
I'm also looking forward to greeting two new babies who are coming in December and January. New beginnings occur regardless of the time of year.
As we walk away from the warmth of summer, we turn toward something else: routine, rhythm, and the inward pull of autumn.
There's a tug in that turning — part nostalgia, part anticipation. And maybe the pebble in our shoe is this: instead of clinging to what's leaving, what if we welcomed what's next?
I'm letting summer walk up the hill and out of sight, carrying its sweetness in my pocket: my grandson's first steps on wet sand; his cousin covered head-to-toe in beach grit and even eating some of it, like the tastiest snack; my granddaughter and I laughing together about animal bloopers on YouTube.
It’s all delicious.
So bring on the harvest moon, cozy sweaters, and longer evenings. And I'll raise my pumpkin latte to what's waiting on the other side.
What about you? What are you grateful for?
Your post resonates with me as a grandmother and I see you also have a women’s circle ⭕️. I belong to a women’s circle here in Canada 🇨🇦 and have also
been part of 3 international retreats, recently Crete in June of this year.
I feel such gratitude seeing the curiosity in the little grandchildren’s movements (1 year old ), in the never ending cute and funny questions from the 5 year olds (cousins- both daughters had their kids a month apart) and then there’s the worry that comes with the oldest grand almost 15, trying to find her identity and control in life.
I can hold both joy and worry only when I practice gratitude and look after myself. Thank you for reminding us of the little things that matter.
As my seasons of life seem to move more quickly, I no longer perceive fall as the time of dead leaves dropping from trees and cold winter almost coming. Those used to be my thoughts. I’d try to mentally prep myself for the brutal upstate NY winters. Now, I languish in each moment of the day. Today is breezy and sunny. Cool, brisk morning, followed by warmer, sunny afternoon. When fall arrives, I am going to revel in the colors of the leaves. I’ll bake more and enjoy the goodies with warm drinks. At the end of the season, my granddaughter should be arriving. Gratitude in abundance.