Welcome to your ✨Monday Moment✨

Take a deep breath in. Hold it. Exhale.

Pick a colour 🔴 🟠 🟡 🟢 🔵 🟣

Find the moment below with that same colour, then go to the closing moment at the end.

🔴 Take a moment to think of some tasty treats with a pumpkin vibe. Do you have a favourite? Are you a Pumpkin Spice Latte fan? Or perhaps a slice of pumpkin cake ? Or maybe just some classic pumpkin pie with a dollop of whipped cream? Perhaps take time this week to have a culinary dabble with some of 👉 these unique pumpkin recipes or at least treat yourself to something pumpkiny.

🟠 Take a moment to have a few calming autumnal breaths. You can either head to this 👉 pumpkin patch video, taking in the sounds and sights as you take a few deep breaths. Alternatively close your eyes and visualise it instead. See a field of glorious pumpkins, all bulging round and bright orange amongst the dusty rows of dirt and leaves. The blue sky above is clear and the low autumn sun is glowing golden yellow. Take a deep breath and smell a log fire burning nearby. Hear the crunch of fallen leaves under your feet as you slowly walk around to find your perfect pumpkin. What does it look like? How heavy is it if you pick it up? Take a few more deep breaths and feel any tension or stress melt away as your shoulders lower.

🟡 Take a moment to think back to when you were little. Did you carve pumpkins or remember seeing carved pumpkins? Fun fact: pumpkins are actually a fruit belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family that includes melons and cucumbers. The best for carving are said to be the Cucurbita pepo, otherwise known as the ‘field pumpkin’. If you haven’t carved a pumpkin in a while (or ever) perhaps you should give it a go this week 🎃

🟢 Take a moment to learn that the original form of the word ‘pumpkin’ is thought to have first been used in the 17th-century fairytale Cinderella penned by Charles Perrault. Originating from the Greek word ‘pepon,’ meaning ‘big melon,’ it transitioned through French as ‘pompon’ and English as ‘pumpion’ before adopting its modern form in America as ‘pumpkin.’

🔵 Take a moment to dive into the rich history of pumpkins. Dating back to ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia and Egypt, pumpkins hold significant symbolism across various cultures. Often associated with fertility and abundance, these round fruits with numerous seeds inside are deeply rooted in rituals of protection and rebirth in many traditions.

🟣 Take a moment to fathom the weight of the biggest pumpkin on record this year. At the famous annual pumpkin competition in Half Moon Bay, California, Travis Gienger took first place again for his 2,471 pound pumpkin. Last year the same horticulture and landscape teacher broke the world record with a pumpkin weighing a whopping 2,749 pounds! Can you imagine the carriage Cinderella could have had from that one?

One closing moment to take another deep breath. Hold it. Exhale. No doubt you will see a smiling pumpkin or two this week and all that is associated with them this time of year. Let them serve as a reminder to find little moments of treats and joy, despite any tricks the week might bring. Now go have a lovely week, pumpkin 🎃

🎃 Any comments and thoughts are always welcome, please consider this a safe space. Share this pumpkins moment with anyone you think will enjoy it and sign up below to get your free ✨Monday Moment✨ every week to your inbox.