Something wonderful happened today. I woke up, gathered my family, stepped outside, and felt a cool, easy, forgiving breeze, a marked change from the breathless heat of summer.

Do you ever sense a relief in the air that makes you give thanks to God? Or whoever you assign authorship for the blessings of this earth?

Do you ever stop long enough to witness the gift that is breath? Around you, the earth is breathing, can you hear it?

Today the breeze is ushering in a new season, the best one. We give it a few names: fall, autumn, harvest. This season attaches to thankfulness like a magnet attaches to metal. Soon the trees will give up their leaves in thanks. I will try to do the same, each day finding new mercies even in the breeze.

I decided to take a walk to digest more of this welcome breath of life. A walk is a great time to practice gratitude and acceptance. I accept this path, I accept this person to pass me on this path. I accept the shade of this tree, I accept the bump of this stump that I must step over. I accept what comes before me, I accept what is left behind me.

The trail I walked is one I’ve walked before. But today was something special. I wonder, did you feel it, too?