As the dog days of summer drag on, the looming promise of colorful foliage, chilly morning coffee runs, thick oversized sweaters, and football games hang in the air. Fall is not far away anymore; kids are heading back to school and college students are moving back to their college towns for another year of learning -- which includes academic lessons as well as life lessons. Fall marks a fresh start for many of us, while also marking the finale of yet another memorable summer. With the character crispness in the air, aromas of pumpkin spice and apples, fall is certainly a season to look forward to. Here are the top twelve reasons why I believe fall is worth falling for:
1. Sweater and sweatshirt season.
Fall is wonderful simply because on a chilly morning you can throw on your comfy, oversized sweater or a warm sweatshirt that does the trick to keep you cozy. No bulky winter coat, hat, mittens, or snow boots required. Another bonus is not having to put on and take off your thick gear every time you get to class or get ready to head back out and trek through the annoying layer of thick snow spread across campus. So appreciate the lack of need for all that thick gear as you throw on your light jacket, sweater, or sweatshirt the next time you're on your way to class in the chilly, crisp fall air.
2. Pumpkin EVERYTHING.
I know not everyone has as strong of a love for pumpkin-themed things as me, or most "white girls" around the world, but you have to admit, there is something so comforting and cozy about pumpkin spice during the fall season. Whether you're one to bury your face in a whip cream topped-pumpkin pie fresh out of the oven, obsessively inhale the scent of pumpkin spice candles, or sip on a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks on your way to your 8am class, you have to admit fall is better with a lil' pumpkin in it. In my opinion, pumpkin is basically a synonym for fall. I love it. And we can't forget that come Halloween, pumpkin carving and pumpkin seeds make their way into our hearts, too. So whoever you are and however you feel about pumpkin, it's almost a guarantee that there's something out there pumpkin-themed that will make you passionate about fall.
3. Crunchy, colorful leaves.
Let's all be real, here. No one EVER grows out of that stage of enjoying stomping through a pile of crunchy, colorful fall leaves. It's just physically impossible to not enjoy it. Luckily, most college campuses are littered with trees, which means more crunchy leaves to stomp through once fall arrives. I fully encourage you to grab a friend or two some fall afternoon and stomp through some crunchy leaves. The bonus? You'll forget you're not 10-years-old and you're paying thousands of dollars in tuition and have tons of homework. And if you're not feeling like acting like a child again (Really, dude? Get off your high horse, OK), you can at least admit the vibrant foliage that comes along with the fall season is beautiful. Oranges, reds, and yellows sprinkle the trees across your campus, providing the perfect, soothing atmosphere to enjoy on your way to and from class if you look up from your phone screen.
4. The temperature is tolerable.
After a steamy summer full of sweat, sunburns, and bright sunshine, fall reminds us all that it is possible to not suffocate or contract heatstroke when outdoors still. It also provides us with a little time to transition before the temperatures drop to single digits and collectively freeze us all into an ice cube. Fall is that time when you can go outside and feel comfortable, whether it's a chilly fall morning in a light jacket and jeans, or a sunny fall afternoon in a t-shirt and shorts. Appreciate it while it lasts; unfortunately fall is only one of the four seasons we get to experience every calendar year.
5. The air is crisp.
Fall is wonderful because the air has a certain crispness to it that doesn't exist in every other season. Those nippy fall mornings are quite the change from the heat we're used to by the end of the summertime, and they really do clean up the atmosphere and make everything seem that much cleaner and fresh. And don't even get me started on how much easier it is to get a nice, full night of sleep when the air's crisp. You don't feel smothered in your sleep by blankets and wake up in the middle of the night feeling like you're bathing in the sweat of satan (thank you, mid-July).
6. Feelin' cozy, how 'bout you?
I love the cozy sensation that fall seems to bring us all. Whether you're sitting in the back of a local coffee shop sipping your caramel macchiato and studying, cuddled up with your boyfriend/girlfriend for a Netflix marathon, or sitting by the warmth of a fire, fall just brings the level of cozy to new heights. Plush blankets, flannels, fashionable scarves, and knitted beanies all come back into style, too, and keep you looking stylish and warm as you travel back and forth between classes throughout the week.
7. Freakin' fall food, man.
Holy smokestack. Can we just all give a round of applause for the freakishly amazing food that the fall season brings with it? Apple, pecan, pumpkin, cherry, blueberry, blackberry, and peach pies are strewn about for us all to enjoy, and if you really wanna top it off, pie a la mode is always a tasty upgrade. Hot chocolate, apple cider, and hot coffee are all highlights of the fall season; they keep you feeling warm inside and taste heavenly, too. Soups, stews, pot pies, casseroles, and sweet potatoes are other yummy fall foods that have the power to melt even the coldest of hearts. Enjoy all of these tasty treasures while they're still around — you just might not wanna keep track of the calories!
8. Football is finally here.
I don't know about you, but I've been missing football since the last touchdown I watched last season. Whether you go out and support your college's football team, or you prefer to cheer on a professional NFL team, fall marks the start of the football season. Fall football means tailgating on Sunday mornings and afternoons and sitting in the stands in chilly weather with blankets and jackets wrapped around you as you cheer on your favorite team. Not to mention, screaming like a maniac whenever your team scores a touchdown and painting your face (or various other body parts) in your team's colors to show your support. Fall is sure to turn just about anyone into at least a temporary football fanatic.
9. Happy halloween!
Who doesn't like the excuse of dressing up like anything you want for one night of the year, without judgement? Um, no one, that's who. The creativity really comes out, too, as people search for the perfect Halloween costume. Whether you choose to go with a group and match your costumes, or fly solo and rock a costume to remember, you'll surely have fun partying it up and eating all the Halloween candy out and about this time of the year. And come November 1st, you can start planning your costume for next year.
10. Falling back for Daylight Savings.
Daylight Savings time may suck in the spring, when we all lose an hour of sleep, but in the fall, Daylight Savings is the bomb dot com. In the fall, we "fall back," meaning we all gain a bonus hour of sleep (or partying, if that's your Sunday night vibe). If you're not sure why this is such an amazing thing, than you clearly aren't familiar with the world of college. So I'll break it down for you: in college, sleep trumps money, food, alcohol, and just about anything else you could think of that has value. So essentially, getting extra sleep is quite possibly the best gift we could ask for. Thanks, fall.
11. Thankful for thanksgiving.
If you don't like Thanksgiving, first of all, please contact me immediately so we can arrange a time for me to slap you repeatedly in the face with a turkey leg. Thanksgiving is not something one just "doesn't like." Thanksgiving means family time, free genuinely good food (which most of us college kids have been deprived of for months) in a buffet style, and a break from school before the insanity known as finals week starts. We have a chance to catch up on sleep, relax, and get some insulating fat on our bodies before winter really hits and causes us all to go into hibernation.
12. Fall's a fresh start.
If there's absolutely nothing that can convince you fall is a season worth falling for, you do have to acknowledge that fall marks a fresh start for us. Something in the air during the fall makes you feel like you can start over, free of mistakes or memories of the past. For freshman in college, fall of marks the start of a whole new chapter in your life, one of independence and freedom. For the rest of us, it's a new year of college with endless possibilities lying ahead in our future. We can make this year whatever we want it to be, spend it with whoever we want to spend it with, and use the lessons we've learned so far to guide us down a different, and hopefully, more successful path.
As you can see, there are many reasons to be thankful the season of fall is upon us. Though going back to the books is not something most of us are likely looking forward to, fall also gives us all a chance for a fresh and new beginning. The comforting aromas of pumpkin spice and apples fill the air, and the vibrant foliage decorates the scenery around us. It’s nature’s one last beautiful display before winter arrives, blanketing us in a thick layer of white snow and ice. Football games, cozy sweaters, and chilly morning coffee runs are not too far off, I can assure you. So hang in there, and appreciate the last few dog days of summer, everyone, because soon you’ll be falling for fall.
