I’d happily live on the equator without air conditioning. My mood immediately suffers when the mercury drops below 80.  Sure, fall foliage is pretty and I appreciate being settled into the school year, but otherwise, the kids don’t want to play outside, my husband is glued to the TV on Sundays, and Starbucks seems to run out of pumpkin scones right before I get there every day. What’s to love about the start of cold weather?

I’m trying to adopt a better attitude this year. For starters, October presents an opportunity build awareness and support for  two causes I’m passionate about. October is the national awareness month for breast cancer and domestic violence. Did you know that about one in eight (12 percent) of women in the US will develop breast cancer? And did you know that more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends every day in the US? Where are your pink and purple ribbons?