November

November is, in many ways, a very contemplative month.

It begins in the wake of costumes and frivolity; false selves on display for all to see. The days grow colder and darker, almost as if the month is turning inward. Candles and treats give way to the early evenings of standard time.

Like contemplation, November is a process of letting go. Leaves fall from the trees. We let go of long, warm evenings and early mornings. The sounds of summer become quiet. We rake up the leaves that once entertained us and prepare for the challenges of winter. We exchange the flashing colors of summer and autumn for the stark contrasts of November. Even in the “endless summer” of Southern California, November is when it begins to rain.

The changes in the physical world around us prompts us to get in touch with our inner emotional and spiritual selves. We review what we have accomplished, and what we have yet to accomplish, during the year. We harvest and assess the fruits of the year, and we prune back branches to become more productive in the future.

November often prompts us to spend more time indoors, where there may be opportunities for reflection and rest. Slowly, drop by drop and day by day, November draws our attention to gratefulness and thanksgiving. We recognize the gifts and blessings of the year.

November is an opportunity to reflect, to remember, and to recognize what we have received. Do not lose it, or let it pass unnoticed.

What earns your deepest gratitude this November?

[Image by Aunt Owwee]