I always feel a little sad

 I always feel a little sad when summer comes to an end. The long nights, the smell of sunscreen, the sound of kids running through sprinklers. It feels like it all disappears too quickly.

But I am learning to lean into the beauty of fall and winter. The slower mornings, the cozy blankets, the way time with family feels softer when the world outside is quiet.

There is something special about trading swimsuits for sweaters, and late nights for movie nights. About slowing down and realizing that memories don’t only live in the sunshine.

They live in the cold walks, in the hot chocolate, in the way we hold each other close when the world gets darker earlier.

I may be sad to see summer go, but I am excited for what is waiting in these slower seasons with the people I love most.