Walking Into Fall: A Reflection on Change and Perspective

Goldenrod is a late-season food source for pollinators.

This summer gave me something rare: the chance to slow down. Without the constant rush of deadlines and meetings, I rediscovered one of the simplest joys—walking.

Here in South Jersey, there are endless places to wander. And what surprised me most wasn’t just the scenery, but how different it felt to return to the same spot weeks later. A trail that seemed unchanged was, in fact, quietly transformed. Leaves deepened in color, wildflowers shifted, the air carried a new edge. Nature keeps its own calendar, whether we notice it or not.

It sounds simple, and maybe you’ve heard it a hundred times—but stepping away, even for just five minutes, can clear your head and reset your perspective. The walk itself isn’t the point. It’s the pause, the deep breath, the shift in attention. Sometimes the smallest pause makes the biggest difference.

Fall Milkweed pods. Milkweed is an important plant to support Monarch butterflies.

As summer tilts into September and fall, those walks feel even more symbolic. The light softens, the air cools, and we’re reminded that transition is a part of life. Back-to-school schedules, the return to work rhythms, the end of vacations—change shows up whether we’re ready or not. Fall is proof that we don’t always choose transition, but we can choose how we move through it.

So here’s your seasonal permission slip: take a walk. Notice what’s shifting around you. Let the rhythm of change outside help you find perspective inside. You don’t have to reinvent yourself—you just have to keep moving, one step at a time.