A Little Autumn Magic: Finding Light, Making Connections, and Showing Up for One Another
Seattle seems to have decided that October deserves a little extra flair! The trees are showing off their autumn colors, pumpkin patches are calling, the coffee is warming, and our rain jackets are slowly reclaiming their rightful place by the door. Meanwhile, the Seahawks, Kraken, and Huskies give us plenty to cheer about (and maybe a few chances to practice deep breathing). As we enter Week 4 of Autumn Quarter, I hope we’re finding our rhythm, making room for a little fun, and remembering that wellness isn’t always about slowing down. Sometimes it’s about finding the moments that make us feel more alive and connected.
I’ve been thinking about how much the people and communities around us shape our well-being. A friendly conversation, an unexpected laugh, a thoughtful check-in, or simply the feeling of belonging can change the course of a day. In a world where so much competes for our attention and concern, these seemingly small moments matter. We can celebrate what is beautiful without ignoring what is difficult, and we can care deeply about the world while making room for joy.
Perhaps one of the most meaningful forms of wellness is finding ways to bring light into one another’s lives, even when the world feels a little heavy.
This week offers beautiful reminders of the many ways people create meaning, celebrate identity, and build community. October is Filipino American History Month, especially meaningful in Seattle, home to the Filipino American National Historical Society, and in nursing, where generations of Filipino nurses have shaped healthcare, advocated for communities, and enriched our profession. It is also LGBTQ+ History Month, an opportunity to honor the courage, contributions, and ongoing work of those who have helped expand dignity and belonging. During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we are reminded that inclusion is not simply about welcoming people into existing spaces, but about creating environments where everyone can contribute, participate, and thrive.
Across our communities, traditions also invite us to reflect on what sustains us. Dussehra (Vijayadashami), observed on October 20, celebrates the triumph of good over evil and offers reflections on courage, renewal, and hope. The Sikh commemoration of the Guru Granth Sahib’s Guruship reminds us of the enduring power of wisdom and spiritual guidance. Different traditions, yet meaningful opportunities to appreciate the values, histories, and experiences that enrich our shared community.
This is also a week to recognize those whose work often happens quietly but makes an extraordinary difference. International Infection
Prevention Week, Healthcare Quality Week, National Health Education Week, and Medical Assistants Recognition Week highlight the people and practices that keep patients, families, and communities safer and healthier. In nursing, we know some of the most important work is also the least visible: preventing harm before it happens, teaching people how to protect their health, noticing concerns early, or advocating for safer systems. World Osteoporosis Day (October 20) reminds us that prevention, mobility, and healthy aging deserve attention throughout the lifespan.
And as we observe International Pronouns Day (October 21) and International Stuttering Awareness Day (October 22), perhaps we can reflect on something wonderfully simple: how we communicate matters. Using someone’s name and pronouns respectfully, giving people the time they need to express themselves, and listening patiently are small but powerful ways to make belonging tangible.
On United Nations Day (October 24), our attention extends beyond campus and city boundaries to the larger human community. In a world shaped by conflict, uncertainty, displacement, and inequity, the commitments to peace, dignity, cooperation, and shared responsibility feel particularly important. As nurses, educators, researchers, students, and colleagues, we can translate those ideals into everyday action. We do not have to carry the weight of the entire world to make a meaningful difference in someone’s world.
Closer to home, UW’s Transfer Student Celebration Week reminds us that every person arrives with a story, a journey, and strengths that deserve recognition. Belonging grows when we make space for those stories, whether in our classrooms, workplaces, clinical settings, or communities.
And now, back to a little Seattle autumn magic! Between Kraken hockey at Climate Pledge Arena, Huskies athletics, neighborhood harvest celebrations, and the sounds of the Earshot Jazz Festival, there are plenty of reasons to step away from our screens and enjoy the season. Montlake Fall Fest, Rainier Beach Harvest Fest, pumpkin patches, and Halloween festivities offer opportunities to make memories, embrace a little playfulness, and enjoy the changing colors. Whether you’re cheering from the stands, exploring a neighborhood celebration, walking through the falling leaves, or finding the perfect cozy spot for a warm drink, joy doesn’t have to be elaborate to be meaningful.
A little invitation for this week
Find one way to bring light into someone else’s day and one way to make room for your own. Reach out to someone you haven’t connected with recently. Learn about a tradition or history different from your own. Thank someone whose work often goes unnoticed. Or give yourself permission to enjoy a moment without immediately thinking about the next thing on your to-do list. Wellness isn’t only about how we care for ourselves. It is also about the conditions we create for one another to feel seen, valued, supported, and connected.
Here’s a week of colorful leaves, meaningful conversations, good coffee, purple-and-gold pride, a little Seattle sports excitement, and plenty of reasons to smile. May we find joy without disengagement, connection without expectation, and moments of light to share with one another.
Wishing our UW School of Nursing community a wonderful autumn week!