This fall in Colorado has been unlike any I can remember despite being a native of the state. The variety of vibrant colors of the leaves and the length of time they hung around has been breath taking. Autumn this year has been more like those on the East coast. Colorado finally lived up to its name of “Colorful Colorado.” Beyond the beautiful colors, there’s so much value in the variety of different sizes, shapes, features, and species of leaves. When a gust of wind blows the foliage from tree branches the leaves scatter like confetti from the sky.
Autumn might be one of nature’s ways of hosting a party. The warm fall sun invites people outside to rake the leaves into piles. Children delight in jumping in the piles. I for one, relish the crunch of the leaves beneath my feet. I have a hard time diverting my gaze from the eye catching display of color and texture. The changing of the leaves makes trees so much more interesting. If leaves stayed the same all year trees would probably go unnoticed and be underappreciated. Trees are continually evolving, changing, growing. Once a year buds in the spring unfold into green leaves that soak up what they need from the sun and give off the excess of what they don’t need through photosynthesis. Trees clean the air we breathe, provide shade, and offer their branches to swing from all without asking for a favor in return.
It makes me wonder if people are capable of living like trees. Can we steadily grow and change, while continuing to offer the best of ourselves? Can we see and appreciate each other for our differences since we are collectively more beautiful and more valuable through our variety? We won’t know until we try.
