Bringing Mae Flowers

Autumn was once my favorite season.

The leaves, the weather, the holidays, the food… I loved it all. It was a time of year that encouraged slowing down, getting cozy, and indulging your nostalgia– every introvert’s dream! But lately, autumn feels less cozy and more competitive. Instead of slowing down, everything is speeding up. The season starts earlier every year and ends before the turkey has been carved. By the time the leaves start to change, I’m already sick of the season. I’ve been falling out of love with fall, and I blame the internet.

I blame Starbucks and Instagram.

It’s hard to imagine now, but there was once a time when fall wasn’t everyone’s favorite season, before two events changed everything. The first was Starbucks release of the Pumpkin Spice Latte in 2005. The second was the popularity of the hashtag #ChristianGirlAutumn on Instagram in 2015. It was as if the stars aligned. Pumpkin spice was a hit, fall is photogenic, and Instagram girls love a trend. But instead of being a fleeting fad, this one had staying power.

Autumn was no longer a season, but a lifestyle.

As soon as brands saw the marketability of the season, it was everywhere. TikTok kicked the it all into overdrive with popular tags like “Halloween hunting”, “summerween”, and “cozycore”. Fall was no longer confined to the 3^rd quarter of the calendar. Halloween began creeping into summer. Before the final Independence Day firewrrok faded from the sky, pumpkins and skeletons began hitting the shelves and flling your feed. Autumn was no longer an experience but something to buy.

I understand why it’s so popular.

Let’s be honest, everything sucks right now. The economy is trash, politics are a dumpster fire, and everything feels out of control. We are simultaneously desperate for something to look forward to and nostalgic for a simpler time. The cozy vibes that autumn décor brings combined with the dopamine we get from shopping is almost irresistible. Unfortunately, the high we get from shopping is temporary and we quickly forget the “must have” item we thought would make us happy no longer sparks joy.

I want to let people enjoy things.

Believe it or not, I am on team “let people enjoy things”. I don’t want to “yuck anyone’s yum”, espeically if it doesn’t impact me in any way (other than the endlrss ads on social media). The thing is, though, I want people to experience actual joy. Call me a skeptic, but I highly doubt that a shopping addiction brings anyone true and lasting happiness. Most of the studies I’ve seen support me on that.

How can we bring magic back to fall?

Happiness can’t be bought and sold, but it can be created and experienced. So, focus on creating the experiene. Build anticipation by making gradual changes to your routine, instead of rushing in all at once. Mirror the slow transition from summer to autumn by slowly swapping out your summer decorations, clothing, foods, etc. with ones for fall. Most importantly, don’t run to the store. Start with what you have. Brining things out slowly gives you time to assess what you already have and engage in nostalgia. Not only does this prolong your enjoyment, but it makes you less likely to spend– a double win!

I’m to fall back in love with fall.