Autumn projects and joy in everyday life fill this morning. Coffee, a lake swim and creative energy give strength while the greenhouse rests until spring.
Good morning. Yesterday I didn’t write a post – I was fully occupied with my autumn projects and joy in everyday life. The morning was quiet, just as it is now, and I simply let it be. I sat in the silence, reflecting and gathering energy for the day’s tasks.
It was only four degrees Celsius when I took off my bathrobe by the lake. Yet it didn’t feel cold – the sun shone and warmed without burning. Mist floated across the water, and the scent of moist soil blended with the freshness of the lake. Everything was beautiful and still.
A Morning Swim that Brings Joy
The swim felt almost ceremonial. The water was still 15 °C (59 °F) – cool, yet surprisingly warm on the skin. I swam 200 meters together with my morning-swim friends while the sun glittered on the surface. The sense of well-being lingered as I drove home, as if the lake had given me an inner glow of joy.
Consciously choosing joy can begin with something as simple as a morning swim.
Autumn Projects in the Greenhouse
Back home, I continued with my autumn projects. The greenhouse was put to rest. I removed all tomato and cucumber plants, scrubbed pots and walls, and enjoyed the pleasant rhythm of the work. I also washed our bed linens – perhaps the last time this year they could dry in the crisp autumn sun. That evening, as I slipped into the sheets, their fresh scent became a small, luxurious moment of gratitude.
Creativity and the Words of Kay Pollak
While cleaning, my thoughts wandered. I’ve promised myself to finish the garden before moving down to my basement studio of paints and canvases. There, a new painting awaits – a joy painting. I picture water and mountains with the words “Choose Joy” dancing across the landscape. Maybe it will become something entirely different when the brush meets the canvas, but for now the idea burns like a gentle flame inside me.
Your Turn – How Do You Welcome Autumn?
How do you receive the autumn season and all its possibilities?
Do you start new projects when the air turns sharper and the mornings clearer?
Or do you, as I sometimes do, simply let the morning be what it is?
I’d love to hear your thoughts in a comment. Your autumn project might inspire someone else.
Reflection
Today I choose joy. Maybe it begins with a cup of coffee, a 15 °C swim, or the scent of sun-dried sheets. In these small moments, I see how Kay Pollak’s idea—that we can choose our attitude—becomes real.
Yesterday has already settled into history, tomorrow is waiting further ahead. But right now – this is where life happens. – Carina Ikonen Nilsson
AHA – Between the Lines
Writing this made me realize that it isn’t only the greenhouse that rests. I, too, am gathering strength. The swim, the thoughts of painting, and the earthy scents are ways to meet a new season with gratitude instead of stress. AHA insight: Joy is a choice that starts in the simplest actions.
Your Voice – Between the Lines
Beneath the surface, this text is about the courage to slow down—to give yourself permission to finish one phase before creating the next. It’s a reminder that joy often grows when we stop chasing it.
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