As time goes on seasons come and go, and we go on with our busy lives. But when autumn comes with beautiful colors, people often pause to look around. One cannot help but notice the beautiful leaves and feel the chill in the air. Cold, crisp mornings feel invigorating, and we welcome the coming months -- a time of celebration, reflection, and fun. Fall in all its glorious splendor provides us with important things to think about and lessons to be learned. Here are a few that come to mind.

Prepare for tomorrow, but enjoy today.

The animals all know it--fall is a time of preparation. Gluttonous bears eat as much as they can to prepare for hibernation. The deer also appear in great numbers foraging for apples, corn, or whatever they can find. Squirrels rob the birdfeeders and gather nuts, and some birds head south to avoid the coming cold. The animals prepare--it is instinctual.

Preparation is important for people too. If a person is prepared, s/he feels confident and avoids stress. Preparation also can reduce the liklihood of conflicts.

But to spend too much time preparing is not good because then a person will miss out the joys found in a particular moment. The beauty of a fall day can disappear overnight with a strong wind.

Appreciate natural beauty and intensity.

Look around. What is more beautiful than the bright red and orange leaves of a maple tree against an azure sky? The beauty of fall can take your breath away. Colors are rich and intense. Painted masterfully into the landscape, these colors of fall remind us of how wonderful are surroundings are.

The colors are quite intense. Sunlight shining on leaves is incredibly bright like a flame. In life we meet people who are intense, and sometimes their firey personalities can overwhelm us. But like the intense colors on a fall day, these intense people enrich our world. Usually these people are passionate about their endeavors -- some are activitsts, some are artists, and some are even politicians. These firey, intense people challlenge us to think and make change happen. At times, they enrich our world.

Accept and celebrate change.

Autumn is a season of change. Our surroundings change--trees glow then drop leaves, weather changes, gardens mature as vegetables ripen. Many of us look forward to fall because we appreciate the changes we see happening around us. We marvel at the brilliant colors, bundle up in warmer clothes, and look forward to eating apple pie. We celebrate.

And we should celebrate change. If the trees did not shed their leaves, they could not bloom again in the spring. Similarly, people who do not accept and embrace change become stagnant and fail to grow and develop.

Change need not be difficult. A change i n one's life can be as simple as making a new friend, learning a new skill, or taking up a new hobby. Sometimes we hesitate about making a change in our lives because change involves stepping out of your comfort zone. But making a change in one's life often can lead to great developments in the future.

Take time to appreciate the little things in life.

Kids laughing as they jump into a pile of leaves, the taste of sweet and sticky carmel apples, and the smell of wood smoke -- all wonderful things of autumn. In our busy lives we often get so caught up in doing, and not enjoying. We sometimes forget to stop and take time to experience the pleasures of the moment. And as we get older, these little moments are what we will remember and treasure.

So take time to slow down and enjoy. Savor now. Fall is a great season for taking a walk, looking around, and relieving the stress of our busy lives.

Recognize the importance of maturity.

As the leaves turn in the fall, we see trees reach maturity because they will not grow during winter. In the garden, vegetables ripen and are ready for harvest. By fall, young animals have matured enough to survive throungh the winter. Maturity is an important part of the life cycle in the natural world.

Maturity is important for people too. As people get older, they mature; and, for most, with age comes wisdom gained through experience. Elders act as a great source of information, and we can learn so much from them if we take time to listen. Like the great harvest of autumn, our elders have matured and offer great gifts through their wisdom. Recognize and appreciate what they offer.