Fall Forward

A visual story—and a few prompts to soften your day

A turquoise bruise bloomed on the inside of my ankle: a relic from a trip to Prospect Park, where a fall—forward—occurred.

I caught myself just in time, one foot stumbling over the other. There was no physical contact with the ground other than the mud and grass already attached to the bottom of my shoes, but I was still enamored by what came into view: a bed of leaves, the colors of cherry, honey, and persimmon. Such a beautiful palette for a close call.

Part of it is on me: my jeans were too long. I rolled the ends slightly higher, oxblood loafers now in view, and kept moving. I was dressed up to go nowhere—and that’s okay because I’m a person in the world—just trying to get some steps in. Just trying to breathe some fresh air. Just trying to stay upright. Just trying to fall out of favor with fear and instead fall into step with passion. Hope.

···

I love autumn so much, and that feels important to say in a time rife with despair. Even though this season is shrouded in a kind of darkness that’s just as felt as it is seen, I’m still drawn to fall’s levity and golden light. I’m pulled toward the park as if the trees have something to tell me—I know they do, but their language is one I’ll be learning for a lifetime. 

From Mary Oliver’s “Leaves and Blossoms Along the Way” (Felicity):

It’s Tuesday, November 5, 2024. I won’t take up too much of your time and energy, but I want to share some prompts—and a sliver of the poem “Self-Portrait 1” by Tove Ditlevsen from (the forthcoming) There Lives a Young Girl in Me Who Will Not Die (out March 2025 from Farrar, Straus and Giroux), which I’ve been revisiting over the last few days:

And what about you—me?

I can fall and get back up. I can navigate joy and sorrow. I can vote. I can recognize the ordinary and extraordinary, which, on the best days, are the same thing. And while I can’t tell you what the (near) future holds, I can invite you to walk with me—to the park, to the polls, to the poems, to a place that feels like home.

A park-inspired prompt

What comes to mind when you think of mother nature and human nature?

A park-inspired prompt

What positive ideas, details, or memories can you associate with November weather?

A park-inspired prompt

What do you think about when you’re near trees?

A park-inspired prompt

What does your ideal fall walk look, sound, and feel like?

A park-inspired prompt

What would you ask fall (the season) if it was an entity you could speak to?

A park-inspired prompt

How does fall inspire you to move forward?