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Autumn Reflections: Memories, Growth, and Transformation
- Jennifer Shlomovich
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Living in New York state during the fall can be a magical time of year! Especially in the Hudson Valley region, where I live. The cool crisp air, changing leaves, apples and pumpkins everywhere, has triggered all sorts of memories for me, both happy and sad. This time always feels extra introspective for me.
The fall has always been special to me ever since I could remember. Growing up in Syracuse, NY, the beauty of the season was everywhere. I always looked forward to the first week of school, because it represented a fresh start. I was picked on a lot in school during my elementary years. Having a different teacher and new classroom, always gave me hope that the year would be different. Shopping for new clothes and supplies was always exciting too! School would still end up being stressful and disappointing for me during those years, but fall still had this special feeling for me of a fresh start. Halloween was always fun in elementary school as well. Dressing up and having parties in class. Looking back, I think what I especially liked about Halloween was that I had an opportunity to pretend to be somebody else. My family would usually go apple picking every year also. Every fall my mom would take me on special fall walks and we would collect leaves together. One year she showed me how to press leaves in wax paper with an iron. Oh, how I miss going on a fall walk with my mom now. She passed away in May 2007. Since the autumn season has been creeping in this year, I have noticed some grief coming up. Baking with my mom and preparing for Thanksgiving are added to these cozy memories in my heart.
Other special fall memories include the birth of my son, who will be 20 in November. Taking him trick or treating and making him birthday cakes to fit whatever phase he was in, also warm my heart.
My dad's birthday is in October. I miss our weekly chats on the phone (he lived in Las Vegas at the end of his life). He passed away in November 2022. I will share more about him and that loss later this month when I do a special birthday post for him.
The fall is also when I started my career in the TV industry, after graduating college in 2001. I formed my business in the fall of 2016. Last year I completed the Forks Over Knives Ultimate Cooking Course Certification and last week I started another certification with Main Street Vegan.
The fall represents a lot to me. New beginnings, career advancement, family, leaves, and apple trees. Grief and growth. Love and new chapters.
What special memories do you have about the fall?
Jennifer Shlomovich is a recovering people-pleaser turned confidence coach. As the only vegan in her household, she knows firsthand how challenging it can be to stay true to your values when the people around you aren’t on the same path. For years, she put everyone else’s needs ahead of her own, but through her journey, she discovered the power of setting boundaries, living by her values, and confidently prioritizing her well-being. Now, she helps busy women simplify plant-based living so they can improve their health, save time, and feel supported—even if their family isn’t on board. On her YouTube channel, The Confident Vegan, she shares inspiring interviews, practical tips, and empowering conversations about what it really means to live in alignment with your values. She is also the co-host of That Vegan Morning Show with Kimberly Winters of the Did You Bring The Hummus podcast—where they help you start your day the vegan way, live every Monday at 7 AM ET on YouTube.