The thrill of September refocusing

I’ve never been all that sure why, but if this sounds remotely like you, and you’re pretending to be sad that summer is over, then let me reassure that this year it’s perfectly safe to shout it from the rooftops. The dismal weather and relentless rain over the last few months have given us full permission to swing open the door and let September walk right on in.

It helps, of course, that throughout the summer months, we were all just so full of expectation. We waited patiently until we could fire up the BBQ and gather around the collective cremating of our burgers and sausages. We were excited for that time when we could remove the winter covering from the garden furniture and we spent months dreaming about long warm, summer evenings sitting outdoors with friends and family. Even the thoughts of leaving work in daylight got us giddy thinking about those hazy summer days. But that’s as far as it got. So, if summer is all about expectation, I believe autumn to be much more about nostalgia.

As soon as you think of September, you’re transported back to your school days. Whether your lasting memories are happy ones, or not, you can still remember the newness of it all – the new friends, new classes, new teachers, the smell of new books, new pencil case, new uniform and sometimes even a new school bag. You can remember every detail of it and how it made you feel.

There was just something about the certainty, the safety of the structure that your school days provided, not forgetting the chance to reunite with your school pals. And yes, the novelty most likely wore off by the end of the month, but it always started so well!

When I consider what September means for me now today, I’m drawn to that familiar routine, structure and stability. I still respond to these patterns from my childhood. It’s a month I know so well, I know what to expect and it is that very familiarity that welcomes me back in, every year.

The smells, sights, and sensations of September as well as the season of autumn give us all sorts of scientifically-backed, feel-good emotions, and honestly, there’s not a lot better than that! So, try your best to embrace it and if in doubt know that science has the evidence to justify how you are feeling.

There are many reasons that people love autumn. As humans, we are naturally inclined to find earthly landmarks that represent new chapters in our lives. For many of us, autumn signals that feeling of change and letting go. The falling of the leaves, the welcoming of new colours all around us, a drop in temperature, and a reduction of sunlight hours – all represent new beginnings in nature and in us too. It just goes to show that whether we realise it or not, our bodies are in fact very much aligned to the seasons. We instinctively feel that pull which I have to admit I find incredibly reassuring and comforting. Why else would we feel that, if it wasn’t being prompted from nature? Especially when you remember that we aren’t separate from nature, we are it.

All seasons create moments that stand out in time, landmarks that we measure the passing of our lives by. It is these markers in time that motivate us to take full advantage of them, which is also why it is such a perfect time to do an inventory on our lives and gauge where we are versus where we want to be. By anticipating a new season, we can also begin to prepare and plan for what we want that to mean for us.

With autumn there is always a sense of going inward. It’s why people always refer to the cosiness of it, the warmth of their winter clothes, the darker evenings by the fire and the snuggly, introspective feel of it. It is the season that gives us full permission to slow down and go within.

I suspect that my unbridled excitement for this time of year also speaks directly to the introvert in me as the pressure of being out, and always on, is eased and I feel the blinding spotlight of summer slowly move away, allowing me to be more myself. In the words of American author and naturalist Hal Borland, who shares my appreciation of this time of year, “Of all the seasons, autumn offers the most to man and requires the least of him.” Maybe this is exactly why I adore everything about this season so much and why, to my mind, there really are only two times of the year worth getting excited about – autumn and waiting for autumn.

Niamh Ennis is Ireland’s leading Transformation Coach and author of Get Unstuck who through her private practice, writings, programmes, workshops and podcast has inspired and helped thousands of people to make significant changes in their lives. She’s an accredited Personal, Leadership & Executive Coach and the Lead Coach in the IMAGE Business Club. If you’re ready to make change and need help Niamh is hosting an intimate, online group programme later this autumn called ‘What If.’ To find out more click here; ‘What if’. Follow Niamh on Instagram @1niamhennis or niamhennis.com.