“When autumn winds have stolen summer’s last kiss I will find you again in my dreams; over and over past thousands of Thursdays, until I can meet you under grey skies and flaming trees.”
Nicole Lyons
As the calendar pages turn and summer begins to loosen its grip on the world, many people become a bit despondent and lament the end of the long, warm days of July and August as they are replaced by the extended darkness of autumn and winter evenings.
I, however, love the shorter days of fall.
Yes, I savor the incredible spectrum of autumnal colors and the sounds of leaves crunching beneath my feet, but I appreciate the imperfect days equally as much as the flawless ones. There is something about a dull grey sky hanging low over the earth, like a giant comforter over all our heads, that draws me in.
In fact, no type of day speaks to my soul as deeply as those days in which it appears that dusk is already approaching by noon, when the sun is dulled to a feint glow and the wind cuts through empty, gaunt branches.
I had an important presentation yesterday and afterwards, I took a walk. I chose a new path and maybe it was because it was all new to me or maybe because the presentation went so well, but I felt so invigorated by the cold, decaying world around me.
It was 3 PM and the sun was already low on the horizon, getting ready to pack it in for the day, exhausted after a rare afternoon of losing to the clouds.
Today is much sunnier and brighter, but that almost feels like a tease because it is so chilly outside. If it’s going to be mid-November, then go all the way with it. Don’t pretend to be warm and inviting through a window only to actually be surprisingly cold.
I want my late autumn days to match – the sky cobalt grey, the wind with a bit of an edge, the trees looking down on us sadly.
There is a haunting quality to those days, but I feel connected to them. I used to joke that they are my favorite days because they match my mood, but maybe there is some truth to that. I’ve always loved the downcast days, even if I couldn’t articulate it – or even realize it.
“You’re like a grey sky. You’re beautiful, even though you don’t want to be.”
Jasmine Warga
In What Made Maddy Run, there is an anecdote about a photo that was posted to social media that made the person “seem nostalgic for a time and place she had never seen.”
I know what that means. Sometimes we have a connection to nature that we can’t explain. Certain people are desperately attracted to water or mountains or deep woods.
Personally, I find incredible beauty, energy, and tranquility in a day that makes others feel dreary or depressed. Maybe that’s just the way I’m wired.
Grey skies forever.
Christopher Pierznik is a nine-time worst-selling author. His work has appeared on XXL, Cuepoint, Business Insider, The Cauldron, Fatherly, Hip Hop Golden Age, and many more. Subscribe to his monthly newsletter or follow him on Facebook or Twitter. Please feel free to get in touch at CPierznik99@gmail.com.
The Passion of Christopher Pierznik 