40 Things I Love About Fall and Life Right Now

Happy first day of fall, one of my favorite seasons for so many reasons. This year feels especially meaningful— in two days I’ll be turning 40. Something about this timing feels beautifully aligned: a new season outside and a new season within. As I step into a new decade, I can’t help but feel grateful for where I am right now.

40 Things I Love About Fall & Life Right Now

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned through yoga is that gratitude is a practice — not just something we feel on the good days, but something we can return to again and again. So, in honor of my 40th birthday and the start of fall, here are 40 things I’m loving, appreciating, and feeling grateful for in this season of life.

1. The first crisp morning of the season.
2. A hot cup of coffee before everyone wakes up.
3. A body that has carried me faithfully to 40.
4. A part time job that has nothing to do with motherhood or hustling to build something for myself.
5. Watching Annabelle adjust to middle school with courage and grace.
6. Spying a clump of red or orange leaves on a green tree.
7. Little moments of deep belly laughter.
8. Yoga practice that grounds me.
9. Snuggling our daughters in our bed.
10. Family traditions that feel timeless – apple picking, showing my girls how to cook a new recipe, the first fireplace fire.
11. One day a week where I am completely alone and free to do all the things I need to do for 6 hours.
12. The squirrels running wild with nuts in their mouths to stock up for winter.
13. When family dinner ends with a kitchen dance party (bonus if my Mom and Dad are included).
14. Mums. My Dad always buys me a Mum for my birthday, then Brandon, the girls and I visit the local farm to buy more for the breezeway.
15. Starting Arbor’s artwork collection now that she is in preschool and hanging it next to her sisters’ preschool art on the playroom wall.
16. The crunch of leaves on an impromptu hike.
17. The deer – one with a cute white tail and the other I call Bambi because of her spotted fur. They are my favorites to spot in the early evening.
18. A cozy blanket, a flickering candle, and a good book.
19. Conversations with friends – on the podcast, over the phone, in the parking lot while we wait for the girls to get out of dance.
20. Building our fall breezeway together – first with hay, mums, gourds, and pumpkins. Then my husband’s enthusiastic transformation in time for Halloween.
21. The way the sunlight shifts in September, casting a golden glow over autumn evenings.
22. A bowl full of freshly picked apples waiting to become apple crisp.
23. Taking a drive to peep autumn leaves and say hello to the farm animals around town.
24. Making fall watercolor paintings for family and friends.
25. Sweatpants and warm socks on cold floors.
26. A steaming pot of chili.
27. Ailey’s enthusiasm to read her little sister a new picture book.
28. A good playlist in the car with the windows cracked.
29. Spontaneous fall craft time with my daughters after collecting sticks, acorns, and leaves.
30. Blankets that feel like a hug on chilly nights.
31. Casual neighborhood play dates in the backyard with pizza around a bonfire.
32. The reminder that gratitude turns ordinary days into something extraordinary.
33. Sunday family dinners full of laughter and chaos – especially when the girls make homemade placemats.
34. Gathering in the family room with popcorn to watch a movie (Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin).
35. My husband’s steady support through every season.
36. That first chilly day cold enough for Uggs.
37. The ability to move, stretch, and find strength on my mat.
38. A fresh new season of dance and excited post-class car ride conversations.
39. Impromptu wine nights with girlfriends.
40. Learning to release what no longer serves me.

As I welcome fall and prepare to celebrate my 40th birthday, I’m reminded that gratitude doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s the little things — a warm cup of coffee, a hug from my girls, a breath of fresh autumn air — that add up to a life well-loved. There are plenty of things to do this fall all around Connecticut, but I don’t always have to leave my home to enjoy the season.

What’s one thing you’re grateful for as we step into this new season?