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Here we are in early October, and the fall season is upon us. For me, this is always a fun time of the year.

While I love summer and all of the things that you can do during this time of the year — such as grilling, sitting on the patio in the evening, hanging out at Roaring River, swimming and getting snow cones — the transition from summer to autumn brings a sense of new beginnings.

As I mentioned, I love summer and all of the fun things that go with it, but the cooler temps in the fall are always a welcome relief after the humidity and 90 degree-plus temps as they start to take their toll on our outlook and our ability to enjoys the days and evenings.

Because of that, Fall seems refreshing. For kids returning to school, it can open new doors and opportunities. The opportunities to discover what piques their interest and passions can be incredibly exciting for kids of all ages.

For those of us who are no longer classified as “kids,” fall can also be a time to enjoy the changing of seasons and the opportunities and enjoyment that this time of the year can bring to our lives.

Looking back, growing up on our family farm, fall was a wonderful time for myself, my brother and my cousins, Joe, Burl and Holly. I will never forget the early October mornings when my grandfather would load us up to go pick walnuts at our Uncle Lucene’s farm. It had more walnut trees than Pappaw Horner’s farm.

After a few outings, the burlap bags of walnuts would begin to pile up and we would start counting up how much money those bags would bring to our lives. We assumed that we would practically be millionaires by the end of October.

However, after Lonnie Yarnall hulled those walnuts, we realized that from a financial standpoint, we weren’t wealthy. Instead, we had a wealth of incredible memories and fun from each October on my Uncle Lucene’s farm.

Those beautiful fall days with my brother, cousins, and grandfather were priceless and I wouldn’t have traded them for anything.

The change of seasons is in so many ways a true reflection of our lives. As we know, time doesn’t stand still, and we can’t control the clock on the wall. The previous month or season moves on. But, we still we can savor the memories of the days or events that brought meaning to our lives.

They will always be with us in our hearts, minds, and memories. However, as we turn the page on the calendar each month, in many ways it can be a bring a sense of renewal in our lives.

For me, Fall brings a sense of possibility and the lesson in not giving up on the hope of better days being ahead of us.

Is every day in the fall going to be glorious? No.

My beloved Wildcats, Razorbacks and Chiefs might not win every game. And there can be and will be days that are dreary and yucky. Then, amazingly after an ugly day, a new day arrives that is beautiful and spectacular.

That’s the beauty of fall and the beauty of our lives. That is why I see fall being a road map for our lives. To me, it is a testament to the sense of possibility and belief that better days are ahead and there is something worth pursuing on the other side.

As I’ve said so many times, my mom and grandmother Gowen believed that we always need something to look forward to in our lives. For me, fall and all of the things associated with it are some of the things that I look forward to each and every year:

• The beauty of the leaves changing from green to all kinds of vibrant colors

• The cooler temps,

• Apples, and all things associates with apples

• The various fall sports or activities

• The Chili Cook Off and The Show I hope all of us can experience some of the incredible beauty that God has provided for us in the days ahead on the fall calendar.

And, I hope that we can use the days ahead to take inventory of the incredible blessings in our lives.

As they say where my wife Darla grew up, “Happy fall, y’all!”

Jon Horner is a local community bank president, published author, newspaper columnist, and motivational speaker. He can be reached at jonhorner77@gmail.com.