Creative Living : Softening into September an annual Autumn reset

Working closely with the seasons means I notice not just how the light changes and how the flowers grow. But how I feel whilst growing them. I have written an Autumn Reset post for the last two years (you can read them here and here). Today’s post will be joining them in sharing how I reset in September.

September gives us a moment to regroup and gather before the year ends. It creates a second chance to shake things up before the clocks change and slowness of winter creeps in.

There have been years when I have jumped feet first into the month. Not always with the best results. Instead I’ve learnt to ease back in slowly. This year I have chosen the word ‘soften’ as a guide. I find a word of the year really helpful in finding focus and essence to live by. For September the word ‘soften’ feels right.

September is birthday month in my house with both my children’s birthdays happening within two weeks.

This summer I really noticed and felt the change in ages. The past few summers I had found a rhythm that worked for us all. This year there were more tensions as both my children sought their own identities and independence from each other.

It wasn’t easy and did leave me feeling fragmented as they returned to school.

Obviously I love them dearly but I know I need to look myself more in order to support them. I constantly flip between working and childcare without a pause. Bringing some stillness into my week is going to be vital in order to stay grounded. As cliched as it may be, I have always found yoga a great cure for most things. I have introduced a class into my week. Being still and focused for an hour is really helping me with my energy levels and sleep. Which again has suffered badly during the summer.

Back to work and this Autumn I am hoping to have a mentoring session with a creative and writer I really admire.

I have been talking to a few different people lately about being the centre of your business and the energy that goes into keeping things moving. Investing in own development is key.

I have learnt and done so much. The question I keep asking myself at the moment –  is what shall I do with all of this? As beautiful and wonderful as it is, it’s tiring doing it all solo. I want to make sure I put myself and energy into the right places.

One of my dreams is to write a proper book. I have gained so much from teaching. I’d love to consolidate my thoughts and experience into a physical item that can reach further than my local community (who I love BTW) and help others.

I have always had a knack of lighting a spark and bringing out the possibilities in others. Working with nature has helped me in so many ways. I want to share the healing, the peace and the joy that working with flowers has brought me.

When work and life are so intertwined it is hard to find boundaries. Every Sunday I switch off social media and pick up my sewing. Ever since I was young sewing has been a favourite hobby of mine.

Now more than ever I look forward to catching up with my basket of collected treasures.

Personally I prefer free hand stitching making decorations and ribbon for my home. They usually end up hanging or draped somewhere but it’s not the destination I’m interested in, its the doing. I don’t manage it every week but when I can, I do and it makes me very content.

I’ve got such an itch to travel, or book a trip. Our holiday to Greece has left me wanting more adventures. I keep mentioning random places to my husband which he’s loving.

There is something about an autumn trip…To keep me satisfied and my family less mystified by random country choices. I have a postponed 48 hours in Marrakech in the pipeline. It was really sad not to go in June however October could be the perfect month. The shopping list is expanding.

The shopping list is expanding because after our trip to Greece I went on a total house clean. Whilst the children and I were at home, I took advantage to edit cupboards, empty baskets and clear out odd socks. It felt cathartic.

Over the few years things have got very shabby around here. Time for all the filthy and broken to leave the house. I wanted it to feel clear as headed back to school but also prepare myself for some work that we’re having done.

Our poor old kitchen has been slowly grinding to a halt. I mean I’ve been creating weddings, without a proper tap which is an essential. It’s all changing and I can’t wait.

Writing this post has been really fun. If you don’t pop your thoughts on the internet I always recommend and hour with some magazine tears and some sheets of paper. See what images tell you. Could it be a focus on cooking a great Sunday dinner, picking up your knitting or making time for a big walk? Let’s take advantage of a fresh start to nourish and soften into a new season. Happy Autumn friends!