Let's Fall into Mindfulness

 This week marked the end of summer and beginning of fall. To honor the change of season I want to take some time to share some Fall Mindfulness Activities.

Mindful Autumn Walk

This time of year is perfect for a nice nature walk. We can throw on a hoodie, boots, and go. As we walk outside we can utilize our senses to explore the season. 

Start with sight. Look around. The leaves are changing from summer green to autumn yellows, oranges, and reds. As the leave change colors they slowly start to fall from the trees to the ground.

Next, as the leaves fall we walk on them and use our sense of hearing to hear them crunch. Perhaps we also walk across some acorns and hear their louder crunch. We can also hear the wind as it rustles through the trees as it knocks the leaves to the ground.

Then, we can use our sense of smell. The air has that crisp fall scent. Perhaps someone near by is baking apple pie or pumpkin pie. 

We can also utilize our sense of touch. We can collect leaves. Feel the difference between the newly fallen and the drier, cruncher leaves which have been on the ground longer. Perhaps we feel a corn stalk as we put in out as decoration. 

On your walk, if you happen to pass an orchard, take a moment to stop for an apple, cider, or donut. You can experience fall through your sense of taste.

Leaf Breathing

If during your nature walk you picked up and kept some leaves, you can now practice some breathing. 

Lay the leaf out flat and trace the sides slowly as you engage in deep in and out breaths. 

Pumpkin Sensing

Just as we utilized senses for our nature walk, you can now come inside and use your senses with a pumpkin.

Sight: Did you pick a traditional orange pumpkin? Or maybe you went for a white one this year? How big or small is the pumpkin? Is it tall, fat, or short.... Is it smooth or does it have some bumps you can see? Does it have a long or short stem?

Touch: As you explore sight, begin touching and feeling. How heavy or light is the it? Does it feel smooth or bumpy? How many ridges can you feel?

Smell: Does it smell? It might not unless you cut it open. If you choose to cut it open you also have a chance to feel, see, touch, smell, and taste the inside!

Hear: Tap or knock in the pumpkin, how does it sound?

Taste: If you don't want to try you raw pumpkin you can pick up pumpkin seeds, canned pumpkin, or maybe some pumpkin muffins. Have a little pumpkin treat. Have some fun!