Peggy Toney Horton once said, “Ah, September! You are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul… but I must confess that I love you only because you are a prelude to my beloved October.”

Nothing rings so true to me.

Growing up, September I wished was a month that would fly by so we could get to experience glorious October!

This year, however, I really tried to—and found—so many wonderfully joyful things about the month of September. Here are 10 joyful things about this month!

#1: The Peacefulness

There seems to be a sudden onset of activity once we enter the end of the August with school starting again for many or with the feeling that our summer days are waning again.

However, for me, I think September brings us this welcomed peacefulness for a couple/few weeks.

All of the sudden the schedule changes that often occur with a new school year and end of summer seem to be habit more, things feel a little more structured, the weather is not nearly as hot or chilly yet, and the activities of fall aren’t ready yet.

The fun and often business that Halloween, Thanksgiving and the holidays bring aren’t on our full radar yet. September just seems to give us a second to breath and be present for a little bit. Even the month feels like it stretches on a bit— as if to say, “enjoy the moment right now”.

#2: The Weather

A family friend recently described the first two weeks in September as his favorite two weeks of the whole year.

These first two weeks—he said— are when we have lost the humidity and heat of summer, but we have not yet started the chilliness that comes with autumn.

They are pure perfection, weather-wise according to him.

And after hearing that and experiencing it, I have to agree.

September brings us some pretty great weather. Early September allows us to experience warmth without it being hot. While later September begins to allow us to feel the excitement of chilly fall mornings and evenings (and days sometimes!).

Helen Hunt Jackson sums it up best when she says,

“By all these lovely tokens, September days are here. With summer’s best of weather and autumn’s best of cheer.” -Helen Hunt Jackson

#3: Produce Ending…and Beginning

When September rolls around, we start to see the endings of a lot of the summer produce that just one month ago seemed abundant.

Peach season comes to a close, tomato season reaches its end and the other veggies of the summertime months finish up in September. However, it is so joyful to be able to eat the last of these fresh fruits and veggies before their seasons end this month.

I wrote in my 10 joyful post for August that one new hobby I have tried this year was canning produce (especially peaches) and jams in an effort to help make this fresh produce last into months when it is no longer in season! If you decide to give canning a try make sure to trust a reputable resource like Ball or the USDA and their resource The Complete Guide to Home Canning.

A bonus for September is that while we might be eating our last meals with fresh summer produce, fall produce—like pears, apples and grapes— quickly starts up again this month!

#4: The First “Cooler” Day

I think one of the best parts of autumn is its cooler weather!

After hot, hot, hot summer days, there is a certain welcomeness in having cooler nights, cooler mornings and eventually cooler days in general.

September seems to provide that with its first “cooler” day after so long.

One day, you are checking the weather and suddenly you see one upcoming where it is going to be the coolest it has been in weeks or months! And it is so so so thrilling!

No matter where you are in North America, September’s first “cooler” day may be just a few degrees cooler than normal or tens of degrees cooler than normal lately, but either way— it certainly is so nice to have that first day where you feel the air is slightly cooler, perhaps you need another layer of clothing or a jacket/long sleeve that day or maybe it’s getting to put a little bit thicker of socks on that day. You might watch a fall movie that day, listen to some cozy music or enjoy a warm beverage outside soaking it all in!

Much like the year’s first warmer day that often hits in February/March, all of it combines to start feeling a little exciting (and joyful!) for the upcoming season ahead!

#5: The Dahlias and Zinnias

I always associated autumn with mum flowers, yet this year I discovered that September gives us the beautiful flowers of dahlias and zinnias!

Dahlias orginally came from Mesoamerica–Mexico in particular–according to to the National Dahlia Society. They eventually made its way to Europe by way of Madrid where it got its name of dahlia.

The zinnia has a shared history with the dahlia. American Meadows writes the zinnia comes from the Central America region and Mexico. The flower recieved its name after the botantist who discovered these flowers and then brought them to Eurpoe–Johann Gottfried Zinn.

Likewise the dahlia and zinnia also have shared symbolisms behind them. In the book, Floriography, author Jessica Roux writes that the dahlia symbolizes eternal love and commitment while the zinnia represents everlasting friendship.

Between their beautiful colors, their wonderful uniqueness and their heartfelt symbolism behind them, dahlias and zinnias truly are such joyful flowers!

Here’s Dahlia and Zinnia Inspiration:

• Buy some dahlias or zinnias
• Consider planting dahlias or zinnias
• Join the National Dahlia Society
• Read Dahlias
• Read Lena’s Zinnias with a child in your life

#6: The Sunshine

There is just something about this month that brings out some of the very best of the sunshine. Morning, day and especially at sunset, the sunlight is simply extra-amazing to witness this month.

It seems so golden. So warm. It hits everything at just the right angle to illuminate it in such a magical way!

Henry David Thoreau sums it up best when he says,

“Happily we bask in this warm September sun, which illuminates all creatures…” -Henry David Thoreau

September sun brings such a joy when it arrives and it only gives way to the mysteriously beautiful autumn sunsets!

Some Ideas:

• When you are driving/walking try to intentionally take a moment and look at how the sun hits the Earth
• Listen to this song by Sol Rising: “September Sun”
• Look at how the sunlight streams in through the windows and hits things inside
• Take pictures of this golden sunlight which seems to provide an almost entire golden hour all day!
• Just soak in the sun outside while reading, meditating, relaxing, or just BE-ing

#7: Autumn Equinox

Autumn arrives in all its amazingness towards the end of this month with Autumn Equinox!

Alternating between the 21st and 24th of September, Autumn Equinox occurs when the Earth reaches a point in rotating around the sun when our daylight and nighttime are both equal in amounts. The other time this occurs is during Spring Equinox in March which I talked about in my 10 joyful things post for March.

According to Rhythms of Play,

“[The Autumn Equinox] rituals [are] about the balance between light and dark; and prayers of thanks for a blessed harvest are shared […] the autumnal equinox is a time of harvest. Use this time of universal balance to hold gratitude in your heart for the life lessons that have helped you learn and grow, and let go of everything that no longer serves that end.” -Rhythms of Play

Historically, this day has been celebrated across the globe for over a millennia. HISTORY.com says the ancient civilizations of Greece saw autumn equinox as the day that one of their goddesses, Persephone, returned to the underworld to be reunited with Hades, her husband. This again reflects the idea of the need for the darkness as well as the light in life. A quote that I heard a lot on my own healing journey was “the only way out, is through”. Sometimes, we have to conquer the darkness before we can stand fully in the light!

Tips:

• Learn more on equinoxes: National Geographic: Equinox
• Read Rhythms of Play’s article on this day and try some of their suggestions!
• Practice gratitude! (Check out this post all about my favorite book to practice gratitude!)
• Check out some ideas to celebrate this day: 10 Powerful Rituals For Autumn Equinox: Celebrating The End Of Summer or Fall Equinox: Rituals and Traditions
• Read The Harvest Sprites with a child in your life! (Authenticity note: I haven’t personally read this book, but it has great reviews on Amazon!)
• Go for a fall hike!
• Buy some fall inspired flowers!
• Do something that feels fall to you-watch your favorite fall movie or pick up a cozy book set in the fall!

#8: Seeing the Leaves Change

Along with the Northern Hemisphere entering the Autumn season officially, September also brings us the joyfulness of really starting to see leaves changing.

While the end of August may show us little hints of leaves changing, September is when you can really begin to know that fall colors are on their way (and in some areas perhaps you are at your peak season in September!).

It is such a beautiful sight to see leaves start to change— it truly brings up the joy of knowing that peak leaves are just around the corner soon, and we get to witness all the glory of nature in autumn.

#9: Michaelmas

In my quest for seeking out joy more in life and during the year, one thing I have started trying to do is to honor old holidays of the past. In a large effort, I believe, because I think they help to ground us and to celebrate the joy in life!

September brings us the old holiday of Michaelmas.

This day, celebrated on September 29th, is the day to honor the Archangel, Saint Michael. Sarah Ban Breathnach writes in Mrs. Sharp’s Traditions that this day is, “an ancient harvest festival dating back to the sixth century, but it is still celebrated today in the Celtic provinces from Cornwall in England to Brittany in France.

Ban Breathnach continues to say that this harvest festival day was often celebrated during Victorian times with dancing, food, music, costume parades and games. It is also a day where it is believed that blackberries are no longer good the day due to the story that Saint Michael threw the devil out of heaven and he landed amongst the blackberries!

Some Ideas to Celebrate Michaelmas:

• Eat something with blackberries!
• Read a book about geese-like Mother Goose— it is widely observed to eat goose on Michaelmas!
• Look for geese flying in the sky!
• In Mrs. Sharp’s Traditions, Ban Breathnach writes about celebrating this day with children in your life by having them play dragons, knights, and princesses due to Saint George (who slayed the dragons) being the human form of Saint Michael.
• Gather some Aster Daisies to decorate with!

#10: Fall Hikes

I loooovvveeeeee hikes in all shapes and forms, but there is just something in particular about hikes in the fall season that truly make my inner joy sing!

The smells, the sights of autumn leaves, the weather feels, the warmer clothes needed—all of it combines to make fall hiking one of the most joyful things to experience at the end of this month and into the next couple of months!

Let Us Know: What do you feel is joyful about September?