Red Shoes on Ashley St., Ann Arbor

Dennis Sparks/Contributor

Inky shadows surround pools of light as darkness arrives unaccustomedly early. Outdoor chairs and tables remind us of what we are losing while offering hope that perhaps it is not yet quite gone.

October is a time of transition, a month whose colors and crispness enliven our senses. It also provides daily reminders of the impermanence that underlies all aspects of the natural world.

An evening walk with a camera offers a life lesson, a lesson that reminds me not to lament the darkness but to be grateful to it for framing and drawing my attention to what is revealed by the light.

A large, weighty thought, I know, but one that has implications for how I might live each day. While I’ll miss the pleasures of summer and appreciate the vibrant colors and the crispness of the air that are fall’s bold strokes, I also want to remember to pause to savor the subtle, quiet beauty of an illuminated porch and the poignancy of remnants of a season past. And in that moment I want to celebrate what is present rather than lament what is absent.

While it is not yet the November holiday of Thanksgiving, I’m curious about the specific ways you remind yourself to slow down each day to fully experience the irreplaceable pleasures of the moment and to express gratitude for the gifts those moments provide. No suggestions are too large or too small to benefit others readers, so I encourage you to offer your comments below.

Dennis Sparks’ “Things Observed” photos and essays encourage readers to slow down to deepen their appreciation of aspects of daily life that may sometimes elude awareness and to see familiar things in fresh ways. You can contact him at dennis.sparks@comcast.net.