Grief is love still looking for a home. As October turns to November, I’m sharing how our family honors Día de los Muertos around the table. We cook the recipes our loved ones made, say their names out loud, and build a simple ofrenda with marigolds, candlelight, and their favorite foods. I’ve also included a few gentle ways to bring children into the remembering, and why autumn invites us to slow down, sip something warm, and give our love a place to land.

You might not realize it, but your whole being shifts with the seasons, whether it is noticeable to you or not. Your body is adapting to the less or more light in the days, sending signals to the brain to alter sleep cycles and glucose patterns. Your skin is adjusting to the temperature and moisture changes in the air, altering your hydration status. Your metabolism actually increases during the cold winter, and your body sweats more in the warm summer.