The leaves are falling, sweaters are coming off their hangers and pumpkin spice everything is back in stock. It’s a season of change, and you can smell it in the air.
TikTok trends of recent years have also highlighted these changes in their own special way. From the October Theory and the November Theory to the 19 Theory and the Taxi Cab Theory.
Autumn seems to be the season of innumerable theories. In science, a theory is a comprehensive explanation for something observed in the natural world. Online, they seem to be made at random and without much rhyme or reason.
What is it about the Fall season that makes these theories start dropping left and right?
Everybody’s A Thinker
Overthinking, sub-fifty temperatures and less daylight never mix well.
As midterms approach and the memories of summer freedom start to fade, dread can crawl its way through the cracks of your psyche. Suddenly, your partner is starting to feel more distant, old friends text less and family calls grow less and less common.
The air itself feels melancholic.
Some people online have begun calling this the “October” or “November” theory. It can apply to many aspects of life, but it usually involves a major change occurring every October or November.
However, is expecting something bad to happen every Fall really a healthy mindset to have? Expecting something makes you look for it everywhere – searching for a bad omen that may never come.
Even though October is the month of spooks and ghouls, that’s no reason to be afraid of a future of changes. Buying into these theories could only turn this TikTok prophecy into a self-fulfilling one.
Looking For Trouble
Though bad luck may follow some like a dog on a leash, stereotyping this season as unlucky might only invite it in.
Sure, in “theory,” a lot of things could go wrong, but a lot of things could also go right!
Fall is a season of change, and it’s up to you to make that change for the better. Some things will never stay evergreen, and focusing on the things you can control while letting go of what you can’t is a difficult but necessary decision we all have to make.
Though people posting and talking about these theories online may make you feel less alone in your troubles, solidarity can also lead to rumination.
Your Life Isn’t Over, It’s Just Cold
According to Psychiatry.org, 41% of Americans say their mood worsens in the Winter. As temperatures drop and days get shorter, this big change can make people less likely to go outside and feel more inclined to sleep the day away. Additionally, 5% of adults in the United States experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD), proving further that the weather affecting your mood is not something you’re alone in.
The change of the seasons is inevitable, but change doesn’t have to be something bad. Of course, for those struggling and looking for someone to talk to, Penn State offers psychological services for any students in need.
As the weather gets colder, let the changes in your life happen as naturally as the leaves turn orange.
Tag us on Instagram, @VALLEYMag, with pictures of your favorite ways to stay cozy in this Fall weather!
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