Making Lists of Fall To Do Items

I’m good at making lists. I should start a master list to maintain the status of all my sublists. Grocery lists. Business to do lists. Honey do around the house lists. Even thinking ahead to holiday shopping lists.

We often talk about bucket lists. I would like to suggest a list of things to do before the fall has fallen away. We’ve experienced a gorgeous fall so far, but with the frost overnight, it reminds that the seasons around here do indeed change.

Many folks in the Midwest state that autumn is their favorite season. I don’t like to play favorites, but fall is indeed mighty glorious. Even if you don’t really dig autumn, perhaps you may be enticed to do a few random fall things on the list.

Here goes:

Eat a cider donut. You knew that one was coming. I no longer eat donuts except for these delights that happen around here this time of year. Apples taste better in the fall too.

Crunch through some leaves. If you want to rake up a big pile, come on over. If you want to play with the blower, come on over. If you want to see a wide variety, come on over.

Go for a drive and take in the fall color. That is the only mission of your drive. You set out purposely to witness the trees in their dandy finest. Find a big, pretty leaf and send it to someone who lives where there is no seasonal change. I send leaves to my Arizona boy. (I send him donuts too.)

Go to a park and walk around. Breathe the air deep into your lungs. Look. Listen. Like it. Notice how blue the sky is. Notice how fresh the air feels. Notice the lack of bugs.

Take stock of summer and the fun you had. Tuck away the memories, either with photos or simply in your file folders in your mind, and be thankful for the feel of the hot sun on your skin.

Look ahead to the upcoming holiday season. Thanksgiving falls late this year. December is two days after Turkey Day. Start making a list of what gifts you have in mind for your special somebodies. Consider online shopping this year and use the time away from the stores doing something else. Maybe you have a party this year. Maybe you slow down and enjoy the decorating. Perhaps you bake every week and eat the yummies as you go. There is no law that says we cannot indulge in holiday treats prior to the holidays.

If you send a holiday photo, take it this fall. Gather your lovelies and go outside beside a flaming tree and snap a picture for posterity.

Get your bird feeders ready for the change in season. You will be glad you did when you can watch colorful birds outside your window this winter amid a sea of white.

Wash your windows. It’s more pleasing to the eye to take out the screens and have a clean view to watch the seasons change.

Prepare your fireplace for the glorious first fire. Candles and music can be on the list too.

Make a list of the places you didn’t go this summer that you want to visit next year. Prince Charming and I made a two page list of weekend places and day trips. We did it all except for two. They will go on the list to start next year’s fun in the summertime adventures.

Make a wish list for Santa. No matter your age or belief system, jot a dream list for yourself. Next year at this time see how many came true!

(Kelly Epperson Simmons, author/speaker/coach, makes lists and dreams big. It works. To hire Kelly as book coach or speaker, contact info@kellyepperson.com or toll free 888-637-3563.)

Photo Credit: Flickr