Abundance in the Midst of October: Finding Gratitude in Every Season of Life

There’s a tenderness to this time of year—a bittersweet beauty that reminds us how quickly time slips through our fingers. The days are still warm, the sun still high, but the shift is already here. The evenings stretch a little longer, the light falls differently, and nature quietly prepares for what’s ahead.

Here in New Hampshire, we’ve been feeling the weight of this season in more ways than one—low water, high temperatures, and sparse crops. The earth is showing her limits, and yet… she continues to give. The golden sunsets, the ripe fruit still hanging on the vine, the laughter of neighbors gathered outside—this Indian summer holds its own kind of abundance.

Even in the struggle, there is beauty.

Even in the heat, there is life.

Even in the change, there is growth.

It’s easy to get caught up in what’s missing, what’s fading, or what feels uncertain. But when we pause—when we take a breath and look around—we see how much there is to be grateful for right now. Gratitude is the anchor that keeps us from drifting into fear or scarcity. It’s the practice that reminds us our dreams are still alive, our youth is still present in spirit, and that pain only holds the power we give it.

Because everything—every feeling, every challenge—is temporary.

The Gift of the Present

The truth is, the now is where abundance lives.

When we stop wishing for more or longing for the past, we open our eyes to the miracle unfolding in front of us. Time will move on. The seasons will change. Our bodies will grow older. But when we hold gratitude in our hearts, we begin to see aging as grace, not loss.

There’s a wisdom in every stage of life:

• The young remind us to dream boldly.

• Those in midlife carry the strength of perseverance and the courage to keep growing.

• Our elders hold the stories and lessons that root us in what truly matters.

Each generation holds a piece of the whole, and when we practice empathy—for ourselves and for others—we begin to see that every stage of life is sacred.

A Pause for Reflection

So as you look out your window today, notice what’s blooming around you. Notice the way the sunlight dances through the trees, the sound of the late summer breeze, the abundance nature still offers even in her weariness.

Take a moment to pause.

To breathe.

To remember what really matters.

Because this season, like every season, will pass. But the gratitude we nurture now will carry us through whatever comes next.

Change is not something to fear—it’s something to honor. It’s life’s way of reminding us that growth and abundance are always available when we choose to see them.