by Kellie Pardi

The Fall of Perfection

It starts innocently enough: one pumpkin spiced candle. Then maybe a cinnamon broom. Next thing you know, you're knee-deep in matching flannel, hoarding miniature gourds, and scheduling a “casual” apple orchard photoshoot that somehow requires four outfit changes and a rented golden retriever. Fall, it seems, has become a performance.

In the age of social media, autumn has shifted from a season to a lifestyle brand — one that demands soft lighting, perfect pies, and neutral-toned sweaters artfully draped on chunky mugs. And while there’s nothing wrong with loving the aesthetic (we’re not here to shame anyone’s Pinterest board), it’s easy to get swept up in the shoulds: You should be baking. You should be decorating. You should be making the most of every single cozy moment. And if you’re not? Cue the guilt.

Let the leaves fall, let the plans shift, let the season be enough.

What are we really looking for? Strip away the filters and what many of us really crave this time of year isn’t perfection — it’s comfort. It’s connection. It’s a sense of slowing down in a world that rarely lets us.

The pressure to make fall “count” — to fill it with picturesque outings, immaculate table scapes, and themed treats for every week — can quickly turn a season of ease into a checklist of performance.

But here’s the truth: you don’t have to do it all. You don’t even have to do most of it.

You can skip the pumpkin patch and still feel the magic in a quiet walk through fallen leaves. You can burn the frozen pizza and still call it a cozy night in. You can love fall deeply — messily, imperfectly — without ever once baking your own pie crust from scratch.

Permission to Uncurate

So this fall, consider letting go. Let go of the need to document everything. Let go of comparison. Let go of the ideal version of fall and choose the real one instead.

Wear what feels good. Eat what brings comfort. Celebrate in ways that don’t stress you out. Make a little room for imperfection - that’s where the memories usually live anyway

And remember: the trees are out there turning colors and dropping leaves whether you post about it or not.

Kellie Pardi has a BA in Journalism with a focus in Marketing. She has been a freelance writer and designer since 2011 with over 8 years experience in the marketing in the non-profit sector. Her passion lies in transformative power of storytelling, art sound and nature. She also curates immersive mediation experiences.