I don’t like pumpkin spice lattes, but I love when it’s time for them. There’s something fun about signaling the change of season that feels sort of romantic. I think about the colors and smells and sounds associated with autumn and tell myself that it’s ok to transition into that different version of myself; that girl who loves the fall.
In autumn, I’m colder, quieter, sleepier. I snuggle into comfier clothes and seek my husband’s warmth at the end of the day. I make soup, read in my navy armchair and sip far more tea.
This year, for some unknown reason I started to get a little FOMO about the pumpkin spice thing, but I can’t help my taste buds. So I thought I’d try something else to feel a little romantic about fall.
I started to sprinkle cinnamon into my tea.
I start each day with a cup of Twinning’s English Breakfast and a teaspoon of local honey. This is the first time in my life that I thought to add cinnamon. I am easing into the season with a new tradition.
I don’t know what it is about practice and ritual that brings me peace. I may be beyond peaceful, if I’m being honest. I’m EXCITED. Maybe it’s the fact that rituals can be relied on. Maybe it’s that they invoke nostalgia, no matter what occurred before the ritual began.
I’ve read lots of books in the themes of spirituality and wellness that ask us to invite a positive practice to the start of each day. Some suggestions include:
- Drinking a glass of water
- Meditation
- Journaling
- Soft music
- Exercise
Having a morning practice has been difficult with three littles and a husband who often rise ahead of me. Mornings are not my own for quiet, peaceful reflection.
But my tea practice has lasted for years.
This year’s splash of cinnamon has brought a surge of something new. It allows me to start my day in peace, but also with an abundance of gratitude for the change in the seasons.
What brought you peace this week? Share the peace!
4 the Love of Peace 