It is no secret that autumn is my favourite time of the year. I love the colder weather, although it’s very questionable today. Like, why was today 22 degrees?! Who gave the weather the wrong itinerary? I really love the dark mornings and darker evenings too. I know, strange aren’t I? I am yet to find someone who feels the same. Anyways, I feel like so many cool things happen in October. Near me, we have a castle that holds outdoor cinema nights, showing films like Scream and The Blair Witch Project, and I would love to go one year. I mean, watching a horror film at a castle at night sounds pretty perfect to me. Not quite in October, but there is also the very underrated occasion that is bonfire night. It will always be one of my favourite nights of the year. There is just something about standing outside in the cold, watching the fireworks and having a hot drink that I absolutely love. Fireworks are just magical as well. Bake Off is now back on, which makes me extremely happy, and everything just feels incredibly cosy. Movie nights are also so much better this time of the year, right? No one wants to watch a horror film with the sun blaring in the background. Give me a dark evening, a blanket, some snacks and a good film any day. So yes, I think it’s fair to say that I thrive at this time of year.
Candles for me are an absolute must this time of the year. Again, it feels like a crime lighting one in the warmer months. I really love once I’ve done everything I’ve needed to do, settling down and lighting one in the evening. It just feels like the perfect way to signal that the day is done. As someone who struggles with anxiety, I find candles instantly calming, I feel like they immediately change the atmosphere in my home. Like a switch. Everything just feels a little more peaceful once one is lit. I am actually not a fan of cinnamon, as I feel like the smell can be very strong in a candle, so I tend to lean more towards apple, pumpkin spice or a baked goods kind of smell. It is also the time for blankets on the sofa, which is also dangerous because it’s a sleep hazard. This is something that cannot be appreciated in the summer. There is nothing quite like getting yourself comfortable under a blanket when it’s cold outside. I also have an excessive amount of blankets to choose from. Would I get more? Absolutely yes. I don’t think there is such a thing as too many blankets, although I’m sure someone is disagreeing with me out there. It honestly doesn’t take much to make me happy. A blanket, a good-smelling candle and a hot chocolate with cream, marshmallows and a flake. That is more than good enough for me.
You also can’t beat a warm bath, until I get agitated and have to get out! Usually, I will overdo it with bubble bath and also throw in a bath bomb, and I’m in my element. Yes, I even have a bath playlist specifically for the bath. I feel like half of bath time is for reading and the other half is for zoning out and daydreaming about the future. I also have a bath tray that I got for Christmas last year and honestly, it’s a gamechanger. I’ll light a candle, make a drink, bring up some chocolate and completely relax. It’s one of the best forms of relaxation for me, even if I do sometimes go from completely relaxed to suddenly go from completely relaxed to suddenly needing to get out! I also love the colours of autumn. The oranges, browns and deep reds are such warming tones and somehow give you the same warm, cosy feeling, even when the temperature outside is dropping. I love seeing the crisp leaves covering the ground, especially when they’re still on the trees too and everything seems to change colour almost overnight. Autumn is so photogenic, so I always find myself taking photographs when I’m out, whether that’s a particularly pretty tree, a path covered in leaves or just a little moment that catches my eye. I don’t think I’ll ever get bored of seeing those autumn colours.
As I mentioned at the beginning, I also love the darker nights, which I think most people hate. I love finishing work and it being dark outside afterwards, which I actually find quite comforting. As a hermit, this time of year also works well for me as it means lots of time indoors! I also feel like it means soft lighting. I never have the big light on, always lamps and little ornament lights wherever I can find them. It’s perfect when watching something or reading a book. There is a different type of feeling when you’re tucked away from the cold outside and snuggled up inside. It’s like the outside world disappears for a little while. All of the above are small moments of happiness that may seem insignificant to someone else but mean so much to me. After experiencing two years of abuse, it’s things like this that I am grateful for and that make me feel free. Being able to enjoy a quiet evening, light a candle, run a bath or simply sit under a blanket might not seem like much, but to me, those ordinary moments are something I don’t take for granted anymore.
If you could sum up what autumn means to you in a few sentences, what would you say?
Amy x
