Autumn reminds us to let go and start over – let a little pumpkin inspire you to find your own path.
Autumn has a feeling all its own. The air turns crisp, the days grow shorter, and nature wraps itself in a soft blanket of red, yellow, and orange. It’s as if the world exhales after the busy life of summer. For me, autumn is a reminder that we, too, can pause, tune in — and ask ourselves: Which path do I want to walk next?
This thought also lies at the heart of my book Gunnar the Pumpkin – The Long Way Home. Gunnar is a perfect Halloween pumpkin, grown to fulfill a specific role. But he realizes that he doesn’t want to be what others expect him to be. He wants to follow his own path — even if it means leaving the safe, familiar field behind. And just like Gunnar, we can use autumn as a time to listen inward, release the old, and dare to begin something new.
Let me show you why autumn is the perfect season to find your own way.
1. Autumn reminds us of cycles and transitions
Nature’s rhythm as a guide
Leaves fall, branches stand bare, and the earth prepares for winter’s rest. Autumn is nature’s way of showing us that everything has its season — and that letting go is part of life’s rhythm.
Let go of the old
In the same way, we can use autumn as a picture of our own lives. What are we holding on to that is really ready to let go? Maybe an old habit, a role we no longer fit into, or a thought about who we “should” be.
In Gunnar Gresskar we see this clearly. Gunnar must tear himself away from the field – even if it is scary and uncomfortable – to find his true path. He reminds us that we too can let go of what binds us, to create space for something new.
2. The silence and slowness provide space for reflection
A natural break
After the extroverted energy of summer, autumn brings a natural stillness. The pace slows. We retreat indoors, light candles, and perhaps sit down with a cup of tea and a book. This slowness is not a sign that we are losing momentum – it is an invitation to breathe out and listen inward.
Questions you can ask yourself
When we give ourselves time for reflection, we can ask the important questions:
🌿 What is really important to me now?
🌿Am I on my way to where I want to be, or am I just following other people's expectations?
🌿 What direction is calling me this fall?
Gunnar also experiences silence – but on his journey it is filled with encounters with both good and demanding companions. He learns that the path is not just about moving forward, but about listening, stopping and finding strength within ourselves. It is in the quiet moments that we can discover what truly drives us.
3. Autumn invites courage and new beginnings
An inner New Year
Many people think of autumn as an ending – but it is actually a beginning. It can be a kind of “inner New Year.” When nature goes to rest, we humans can find clarity to see where we want to go next.
Courage to move forward
When the leaves fall from the trees, the landscape becomes more transparent. We see the lines more clearly. The same thing can happen inside us: When we let go of something, our direction becomes clearer.
Gunnar must step into the unknown, even though he doesn't know what awaits him. He encounters a philosophical snail, a cunning elf, and others who would influence his path. But through the courage to continue, he discovers that he already carries the answers within himself.
In this way, autumn can be an invitation to all of us: To take the first step, even when we don't know the whole path. Courage is not about being without fear – but about moving forward with the heart as a compass. 
4. Stories help us find our own path
The language of fairy tales
Why do I write fables and fairy tales? Because stories give us a language for the inner journeys we all go through. When we read about Gunnar, we can recognize ourselves - in the doubt, in the longing for belonging, in the desire to be true to ourselves.
Stories make it easier to reflect on our own lives. They bypass the defenses of reason and touch us somewhere deeper, in the heart. Perhaps that is why autumn is a perfect time to read: We can be inspired, dream, and ask ourselves the question: What is my path?
Gunnar Gresskar's reminder
Gunnar Gresskar – The Long Way Home is not just a book about a pumpkin. It is a story about all of us – about daring to ask the question: Who am I, and what direction do I want to take?
Conclusion: Your path this fall
Autumn reminds us that everything is in motion, that we can let go, find peace, and start anew. It invites us to reflect, to listen inward, and to step courageously into the unknown.
So maybe this fall is the time to take a small step towards your own path. Maybe it's time to let go of something that no longer serves you, or to dare to say out loud what you really dream of.
And while you do so, Gunnar Gresskar – The Long Way Home can be a companion and inspiration. Because even a little pumpkin can find the strength to say: “I go my own way.”
