The Magic of Romanticizing the Fall
Image courtesy: pinterest
Oh, fall. We all love it. And yet, it is one of the most stressful times of the year—for students at least. You moved up a grade level, you have new classes, are growing closer to some new friends, and might even have a new living situation. All of this takes some (pretty hefty) adjustment. Nevertheless, we all hold our breath in the morning before stepping outside, hoping the air carries the slight crisp of fall. Why? Because in my opinion, there is nothing bad that could happen to you from September-November that can’t be fixed with a little romanticism and some indulgence in the fall aesthetic.
Do you have a massive exam tomorrow and are forced to spend all day studying? Easy. Turn on that 16-hour Harry Potter ambiance YouTube video, and all of a sudden you’re Hermione studying at Hogwarts. Problem solved. Thinking about your ex? That is so All Too Well (10 Minute Version) of you. Dreading going to your extra-long lecture tomorrow? Don’t worry; go on and watch Dead Poets Society tonight. Soon enough, you’ll find yourself wanting to go to class to achieve that dark academia vibe. With the healing power of the fall aesthetic, you are more or less unstoppable.
There are so many ways to get in the fall spirit, my favorite being to watch a fall movie. My newest favorite is the classic Practical Magic, a 90’s film featuring two witch sisters. A new release, Totally Killer, satisfied my craving for a modern Halloween slasher film –and added a touch of time travel! Friday the 13th and the original Halloween are both fall-season classics and for good reason. If you’re leaning more towards the nostalgic fall of your childhood, try out Girl VS Monster from Disney’s Monstober era. If you prefer TV shows, binge some holiday episodes of your favorite shows. I recommend How I Met Your Mother Halloween episodes or Friends Thanksgiving episodes. Or, go for literally any episode of Gilmore Girls. I don’t need to elaborate on that one.
No time to watch something? Some music, in my mind, totally has a fall vibe. For starters, listen to some Hozier or Noah Kahan on the way to class. You could also get some fall vibes into your life through food. I am a firm believer that honey crisp apples and apple cider donuts will heal anything going on in your life, so drag some friends to go apple-picking with you. Even some pumpkin spice creamer in your morning coffee will start your day off on the right foot.
The bottom line is life can be really hard. Especially in the fall, things can get very overwhelming, very quickly. Just remember that nothing is the end of the world; take everything one day at a time. No matter what your problem is, there is probably a perfect fall movie to watch full of comforting vibes in which the protagonist is going through the exact same thing.
Strike Out,
Alex Keezer
Editor: Grace Maneein
Athens