A HOPEFUL HEART â—½ YOU
Autumn Walks
By Christina Oberon
I carried him on my back along the winding trails of the botanical garden, the rustle of leaves underfoot marking our pace. The season was shifting, though not yet in full autumn. The trees still held most of their green, with hints of gold and amber peeking through. Walking there with my son, it felt like the perfect moment to pause and notice life’s quiet transitions.
His little hands were curious, brushing against branches and pointing at flowers I hadn’t even noticed. In carrying him, I wasn’t just supporting him physically, I was seeing the world through his wonder-filled eyes. And thanks to the fact that I’ve finally started working out, I could do it without wincing too much, which I’m counting as a personal fitness win. Who knew motherhood would double as a full-body workout plan?
As the trail curved around a small pond, the sunlight hit the water just right, reflecting the leaves that were beginning to turn. Change was happening quietly, gradually, and beautifully. Seasons, both in nature and in life, don’t always arrive with bold colors or dramatic shifts. Sometimes they ease in, almost unnoticed, until you look back and realize just how much has changed. Those are often where the best lessons are found, when we are fully present and paying attention.
With each step, I thought about the many transitions in our own lives, moments of waiting, growth, and uncertainty. They can feel heavy at first, like the weight on my back. But just as with this trail, there’s beauty in the journey itself. The act of carrying, of moving forward step by step, teaches patience, gratitude, and love. Even the smallest steps or the faintest shifts in color remind us that change is not something to fear. It’s something to witness, embrace, and learn from. By the time we reached the end of the trail, the sun had shifted, casting a warmer light across the garden. Hope settled in. The rustling leaves, the winding path, and the crunch of our footsteps became a lesson in noticing, appreciating, and trusting the process of life.
Nature has a way of teaching without words. The subtle change of the season, the gentle sway of branches, and the curious gaze of a child remind us that every stage holds value. Sometimes, carrying someone else along the path gives us new insights of our own… while also building a few unexpected biceps. That day, on that trail, made me think about how change is always an invitation to grow, to see the world anew, and to hold hope close to our hearts.