There was a game we used to play at the dinner table when my daughter was little, called “What’s Your Favorite?” It was a way to encourage conversation and talk as a family about things that were important to us. What’s your favorite season, food, color, holiday, sport, game, book, song……. Of course, the answer had to include why you felt the way you did. So, for instance if it I were asked my favorite color I might respond, ‘the darkest blues and purples that fill the sky right after sunset. They are dark and mysterious and make me feel peaceful.’

This is a thought pattern that I have continued well into and beyond ‘adulthood’ much to my daughter’s chagrin. I like to know the way people think about things and why they feel the way they do. It seems to me to be a small window into their souls. What is important to you? What do you love-and why? Like opening an old clock to see the inner workings- the gears, the fly wheel, the pendulum.

I wonder if somewhere along the way we stop asking and wondering how people feel about things? What makes your heart sing? What are the things you love? Maybe the simple beautiful things- sunsets, hot chocolate with marshmallows, sitting by the fire, candlelight? The things you love say something unique and special about you-it’s your own inner wiring that attaches to your heart and runs throughout your being. Though “What’s Your Favorite?” may seem a bit trivial it leads to a depth of understanding of what makes you you.

There are many levels to conversation-everything from the ‘the weather’ to your innermost thoughts and feelings. It is interesting to take a look at what level of sharing you feel most comfortable with and how it may be easier to share with some more than others.

I wrote a song while teaching at the elementary school called, ‘What’s Your Favorite Season?’ The kids would stand up and add some dance moves-depending on the verse that celebrated their favorite season-swim if it’s summer…..jump up if it’s autumn…..dance if it’s winter…..sprout up if it’s spring…and march if they’re all your favorite seasons….. It became a very exciting song at Morning Program and one that I always loved to sing.

And now we have ‘jumped’ into my favorite season. I love fall, sweater weather, cooler nights, autumn colors, pumpkins, holidays…there is so much to love about fall. The change of seasons brings with it an anticipation of all that is to come-frost on the pumpkin, leaves changing color, soup in the crock-pot. Early darkness and cooler days carry us inward and change the often busy, frenetic pace of summer. I for one, am always grateful for this ride on the circle of the seasons. It keeps life fresh and new and helps us to welcome and appreciate the warm, summer days once they reappear.

So now I’m wondering, what it is your favorite season?

What's Your Favorite Season?