Change is in the Air

A Lesson on Acceptance

10/10/25 - Afternoon

I started off my trip to Observatory by buying my current favorite drink: a pumpkin spice latte. The barista in CCOM even wrote me a cute little note on the lid, which put me in a good mood for the walk to the park.

Arriving to the park felt comforting. By this point, I had spent hours at Observatory over the course of the past month and it had begun to feel safe and familiar. On this particular day, I was especially excited to see the park because I knew that it would be in the throes of autumn. The park scenery that I had gotten used to had changed. Lush green coloring had been replaced by rusty oranges and vibrant yellows. Leaves gently carpeted the grass and a slight chill was in the air.

I was almost overwhelmed by the amount of beauty and newness that I was experiencing, so I decided to sit down on a bench and observe. In the past when I have felt overwhelmed, I've practiced what is called the "5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Method". Essentially, it is a grounding strategy that utilizes the five senses and helps me be more present in the moment. At this time, I felt it was appropriate to try out this method and see if it could help me take everything in. Below, I have recorded my thoughts:

5 things I Saw:

Bright red berries
Vibrant leaves
Brick observatory
People
Gray sky

4 things I felt:

Cold bench
Rough bark
Crunchy leaves
Comfy sweater

3 things I heard:

Chirping birds
Whirring lawn mower
Twang of a tennis racquet

2 things I smelt:

Freshly cut grass
Smoky barbeque

1 thing I tasted:

Pumpkin coffee

During my grounding exercise, I really began to appreciate the seasonal changes that the park was experiencing. At first, acknowledging these changes made me fill a bit sad. I longed once again for the carefree summer days in early September and felt a bit of dread as I thought about the coming winter. However, the longer I sat with the feeling of discomfort, the more ready I was to face the coming seasons. After all, it's not like I can stop the change from happening. Logically, there is no reason to worry about controlling something that I can't control, so I might as well just accept it.

Below, I have included some photos that really encapsulate seasonal change at Observatory Park. The first photo in each progression was taken in early September, and the second photos were taken today, mid-October.

The community garden used to donate food to local food pantries has been dismatled for the winter.

Large trees changing color.

My favorite patch of flowers saying goodbye; not forever, but just until next year!

More trees!

After reflecting on the bench for a long while, I decided to put my hammock up and take a nap. I knew there were some good tree options over behind the observatory, so I walked over and looked around until I had found a good spot. Excited to get some rest and relax in nature, I quickly unpacked my hammock. However, it wasn't long before I realized that I had made an unfortunate mistake. I had left my hammock straps at my house when I moved in to college. I was upset that I had forgotten something so silly, but decided to make the best of it.

So, I spread my hammock out on the ground like a picnic blanket and started stretching. It is one of my personal goals to improve my flexibility for taekwondo, so I chose to take the opportunity to do some light yoga work. Although it wasn't what I had planned, I ended up feeling happy, calm, productive, and connected with the outdoors. Once again, I was learning the power of acceptance.

After my visit to the park, I felt as though I had experienced a new realization. Change is both loved and feared; many people people spend their lives avoiding it, while others chase it constantly. I personally admire the way that nature accepts change with open arms. It is neither rushing seasonal cycles nor pushing them away. Rather, nature understands that change is inevitable and gives each season grace. After all, change is the only constant thing in life.

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