With the arrival of fall, the clouds are moving in, and here in Michigan that can mean lots and lots of clouds. It's a time of review and reflection, wondering what we've been up to and what new directions we may want to take. The fall is a prelude to the hibernation time of winter, when we hunker down to face the early darkness and long stretches of cold. These seasons can be a challenge for many people who react strongly to less light with feelings of sadness, lethargy and negativity. At a minimum, we can feel we are 'down a few quarts' in our personal energy tank. It can be hard to remember that there is still light to be found, when on the surface things seem compellingly bleak. So, how can one prepare for these seasons of pulling back and shutting down? The answer lies in the word prepare.
Remind yourself that that all living things respond to seasonal changes, it's normal.
Slow down and enter the fall with deliberateness.
Develop a ritual to help you segue into the new season fully conscious and connected to the change.
Find your light, such as; getting together with family and friends, reading, writing in a journal regularly, winter sports, exercise, good food, cooking, inviting friends over for a movie night, working on a hobby, discovering a new hobby, being curious.......
How will you prepare for fall and winter? Let others know how you approach the fall and winter seasons by using the comment feature. I would love to hear from you.
Photo: Chris Wucherer
