Sweet Melancholy

"There is melancholy in the wind and sorrow in the grass."           

--Charles Kuralt

I always get a little melancholy this time of year. As the days get shorter and the sun's rays grow longer, even the cicadas seem to whir with a sorrowful longing for... what? What is it? Do we mourn the end of the growing season, with its long days and warm nights? Will we miss summer's gift of time and space to relax and "just be"? Or do we dread the coming days of darkness, the fading of the light?

For many of us, the end of summer signals going back to school or work, full schedules, and/or just plain busyness; and while it can be exciting, it can also disconnect us from what really matters.

For others, the end of summer brings loneliness -- the loneliness of not having a place to go or things to do -- a heightened sense of isolation as others return to their "normal" lives.

For me, this melancholy is not necessarily a bad thing. It seems to create an interior spaciousness, an opening of the heart for deeper reflection and connection with soul. It's a sweet sadness, mingled with gratitude.

I think what's most important is to notice it. Pay attention... it's there for a reason.

What about you? What speaks to you this time of year? What do you notice? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below...