Endings and Beginnings

There is something about summer that seems to give us permission to live life a little differently.

The longer days and lighter evenings. Holidays, weekends away, sitting outside, seeing friends and family more. Even something as simple as going for an evening walk because it is still light can make life feel different.

For me, summer has always felt like a time when there is a little more space for fun, connection and looking after our wellbeing.

We spend more time outdoors. We make plans. We travel. We sit in gardens. We stay out later and we also find ourselves slowing down a little.

Of course, summer isn’t carefree for everyone. Our worries, responsibilities and the things happening in our lives don’t disappear because the weather is warmer. However, the change of routine can give us some much-needed breathing space.

Sometimes it isn’t until we stop that we realise how tired we’ve been or how busy life has become.

A holiday, a weekend away or even an afternoon spent doing something we enjoy can remind us how important it is to have time where we aren’t constantly thinking about what needs to be done next.

Of course, almost without noticing, September starts to come into the peripheral.

The evenings get slightly shorter. Mornings feel a little darker. Summer holidays are coming to an end. Children are getting ready to go back to school and normal routines start creeping back in.

I’ve always felt that September has a little bit of a January feeling about it. A sense of getting back to things. Starting again. Maybe even thinking about what we want the rest of the year to look like.

When Summer Starts to Fade

There is often something quite bittersweet about the end of summer. We might be ready for routine again but still not quite ready to let summer go. Maybe we feel apprehensive about moving into the colder months and what comes with it.

Maybe you are feeling like… how is it September already?

Perhaps that is why this time of year can be a useful point to stop and take stock. Not necessarily to set goals or make huge changes.

Just to notice…….

• What have you enjoyed this summer?
• What have you missed?
• When have you felt happiest?
• Who have you enjoyed spending your time with?
• What have you perhaps realised you need a little more of?

Maybe you’ve enjoyed being outdoors more and want to keep that going, maybe you’ve realised how much you needed the break. Perhaps you’ve felt more connected to people you love.

Have you had some time away from your normal routine that has given you space to think about something that hasn’t been feeling quite right for a while?

Sometimes a little distance from everyday life helps us see things differently, particularly if we have been experiencing stress, anxiety or feeling overwhelmed.

Moving into September

September doesn’t have to mean suddenly filling the diary again and going straight back to being busy. Are there parts of summer we can take with us?

• More time outside.
• Seeing people we enjoy being around.
• Making plans just because they sound fun.
• Resting without feeling that we should be doing something productive.
• Making a little more time for ourselves.

Are there things you are ready to leave behind too?

September can be a time to think about our mental and emotional wellbeing, where we are and how we’re actually feeling as we head towards the final few months of the year. For some, that might also mean finally making time for something they’ve been thinking about for a while.

Including therapy.

You don’t have to wait until things feel unbearable to come to counselling. Sometimes it starts much more simply than that.

You might know that something doesn’t feel quite right. You might be feeling overwhelmed, anxious or stuck. Or perhaps you’ve been thinking for a while that you’d like somewhere that is completely your own to talk things through.

Counselling can provide that space to explore how you are feeling, understand what might be going on for you and think about what you need moving forward.

As summer comes to an end, maybe it’s worth taking a little time before rushing into whatever comes next. What would you like to take from this summer with you and what are you ready to leave behind?

If you’ve been thinking about starting therapy or counselling this autumn, I offer individual counselling and couples counselling from my practice in Hamstreet, near Ashford in Kent, as well as online counselling sessions.