No. 63: We may yearn for fall, but it's not time yet
An ode to fall (and why we need to save it!) 🍂
You may have noticed I was absent last week, my apologies. My idea well is running dry and I needed a break. But this week I thought I’d just write up feelings rather than facts.
Last week was miserably hot for me - as I’m sure it was for you - but especially running in it. My days lately have been marked by putting up my car visor reflectors in the afternoon, and blasting the A/C when I get in. Like seriously, do they even work? Every time I hop in the car it reads over 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
So naturally, this unbearable heat we’re all experiencing is making us all wish for a change. Starbucks is ready, every department store is ready (and has been for at least a month). We’re all ready for fall. But our current climate is allowing capitalism to prosper. Naturally, with climate change, we will experience less moderate weather days every year. The autumn season is shortening as we speak. This is due to rising temperature, changes in precipitation, insect infestations and increased extreme weather events, National Geographic reports.
So, if we all love fall so much, why aren’t we doing anything to save it? And I know, people love more than just the climate, but you have to admit it plays a large role in why the season is so great. Cool days, foggy mornings, crisp air, fresh apples, and much more. Fall makes me feel better connected with nature, reminding me to stay in touch with my home.
Additionally, fall is popular also because it has been viewed as a commodity. We make it last longer by drinking pumpkin spice lattes and buying candles well before fall is here (that’s also why I love fall, it’s a little less predictable than its equinox, it kind of just creeps up on us like a hug). I work in retail, and I hate seeing fall become this product to be bought, like it’s not some wonderful weather phenomenon that makes us all want to get outside. (And for that, I blame Target.)
So, I ask you: if you’re a fellow autumn stan, what do you adore so much about this season, weather wise? How can we encourage other fall lovers to look towards mitigations and adaptions that allows us to keep appreciating it for more years to come?
Further reading (on our psychological obsession with fall):
Why we all love fall so much (Discover Magazine) - “Research has shown that gloomier conditions, like rainy or thunder-filled days, prompt people to feel nostalgic and that the emotion might also work to literally make people feel warmer.”
There's a Psychological Reason Why We Love Fall So Much (Very Well Mind) - “‘With cooler temperatures comes clarity of thinking, in contrast to the fogginess associated with warmer temperatures,’ says Dr. Saad. ‘People [also] tend to feel more comfortable about their bodies and appearance in the fall because they're wearing more or bulkier clothing.’ That, combined with the social acceptance to indulge in Halloween candy and decadent fall foods, means ‘there's less body shame and pressure to diet in order to maintain a picture-perfect, beach-ready body.’”
You’re doing it wrong: Recycling and other myths about tackling climate change (Washington Post)
Rainforest study: Scientists now know the temperature at which photosynthesis stops (Grist)
Climate doomerism is dangerous. Climate optimism is even worse (Fast Company)