As I’ve shared before, I love September. It’s my favourite month: the bright hot days of summer begin to shift into cooler days with crisp mornings and long-shadowed nippy evenings.

There’s a sense of settling in: of both slowing down and gearing up for what’s to come. A new school year always brings new energy. Gathering school supplies — blank and fresh, with so much promise. Restarting extracurricular activities. Mapping out the final months of the calendar year. Creating structure for the coming weeks.

It’s the season of sweaters and warm mugs. The season of enjoying the harvest: butternut squash soup, roasted root vegetables, hearty comfort food shared around the table or fire. Lengthening nights. Falling leaves. The colours: gold, orange, red.

I love all of it. I know some of you lament the ending of summer, and are grasping to hang onto it and cram as many more beach days in as possible, but I welcome the shift into autumn this month.

But Uh Oh… Here Comes the Overwhelm

I know for some of us, our upcoming autumn to-do lists can create a sense of overwhelm, especially if we are returning to workplaces, to schools, to public spaces with other humans.

Here’s a little reminder:

We get to choose what we do. We get to choose what we say yes and no to. And, yes, of course there are certain things that we must do. And there are the things we choose to do because we truly want to. And then there are the things we can choose to let go of, to release, to quit, in order to preserve our peace, our energy and our joy…especially during these continuously trying times. Right now, we need less to worry about, not more.

So, what can you set down, remove from your to-do list or your calendar of commitments for the upcoming months?

How can you honour your needs and wants instead of filling your days with commitments that serve others? Because guess what? They will be just fine.

Permission granted to support yourself right now.

A dear client recently shared an episode of Glennon Doyle’s We Can Do Hard Things podcast, focused on quitting. One piece of wisdom from it is the original definition of “quit” which is to be set free; to be free and clear; to be calm and resting…not the current negative connotation we have of the word, whereby we equate quitting with losing. The original definition, and this conversation, gives us permission to quit what doesn’t light us up, and to rest as part of the process, and lots of other good stuff too, so have a listen if you have time.

Summer Reflections & Inspiration

For the first time maybe ever, I blocked off entire swaths of time — full weeks! — over the summer for downtime. I realize it is a luxury and privilege to have the ability to take time away from work, as so many others struggle to make ends meet in our communities, and with what’s happening here and around the world. And, I know that rest is essential to our ability to show up in our lives, for us to have energy and capacity to serve, to raise our children, to solve the problems our world faces. So while I rested, while I stepped out of “doing” mode and spent time in “being” mode, I was especially grateful for my circumstances and ability to do that.

I revelled in the Olympic athletes’ performances and stances of personal sovereignty.

I spent time with family, including a brand new family member, that we hadn’t seen in person since before the pandemic.

I read books. So. Many. Books.

I walked on beaches and waded in the ocean.

And I watched our province dry out and burn, and the earth quake and winds blow and rain fall and buildings tumble in already too-challenged places, and terrorism rise to create unimaginable circumstances, again, for people and especially women and girls in Afghanistan.

My heart has been both filled to overflowing, and torn to shreds, sometimes in the same day.

So what’s been inspiring me during these hard times?

My friend and fellow deathworker Kate shared a lovely piece of writing by adrienne maree brown, which speaks to the interconnectedness of everything as an antidote to our fractured society right now (from an American point of view, but applicable to other places, too). I found it a helpful frame to view those with different attitudes, beliefs and choices than my own; a balm for heavy-heartedness.

And, in a recent email from Jennifer Louden, she asks: Why bother to create when the world is burning? She responds, partially, as follows:

…I wonder if we give up on writing & creating when the world is crashing around us less because we think it doesn’t matter and more because it does? And we are afraid to care deeply about anything because it forces us to face that this is it? This is our life now, on this contentious burning planet.

And while what we do to help matters greatly, we can’t do it all. In fact, we can do very little, even if we were Queen of the World, which, alas, we are not. To create is to embrace our finitude which strangely, can motivate us better than thinking we should be able to do it all and then despairing when we can’t.

Or maybe we are afraid to create during times like these because it feels wrong to be fulfilled? To be happy? Yet nobody in Afghanistan or Tennessee or Algeria cares if you’re unhappy. It does nothing to relieve their suffering.

Personally, creating reminds me life is worth fighting for. Creating is good medicine against my despair and depression. Creating helps me wrap my arms around the finitude of my tiny life…

Her words give me hope.

Now is the time for us to rise and meet the challenges of our time, in whatever way we each can, with whatever gifts and skills and insights we each hold.

We’re in an era of dismantling, of tearing down before the new and better way can be built. It’s hard, uncomfortable, confronting work.

Rest if you must, but don’t give up altogether. The world, the planet, all of us need your goodness, your light, your brilliance to help tip the scales toward the future we want and deserve. We are, and it is all connected.

What’s Coming Up

Opportunities for personal learning and transformation through group programs

If you’re looking for a map and motivation to help you positively impact your future, your community’s future, and the world, you may be interested in Activating the Spiral. This is the final time this 8-week course will be held in a live virtual format, from September 14-November 2. My colleagues Abigail and Sarah will be co-leading this time. If you’re looking for a supportive and edgy spirit-led and nature-based personal growth program, this is for you. (Note: I don’t make any financial gain by sharing this; I simply believe in the work and want you to benefit from it if the timing feels right.) Learn more from this overview, or reach out to me to see if it’s a fit. I’d love to welcome you to the Spiral Community!

Positively Chronic is open for registration and runs September 21-October 26. Once again, I’m keeping the group small and intimate (6 people). Through this program, you’ll learn tools, skills and practices to manage the mental and emotional load that accompanies a chronic condition, so you can enjoy life.

Mortal Motivation is also open for registration and runs October 6-27. In this program you’ll get (a little) more comfortable with the idea of your mortality so that you can live well now…before it’s too late! Whether this is the first time you’re dipping your toe in the death conversation, or you’re ready to dive right into the pool to splash around in it, you’ll come away with less fear and anxiety and more ownership and intention for your one precious life.

In Development

New: The Positively Chronic Self-Coaching Deck!

I’m working on production details right now, and don’t yet have a delivery date when this helpful card deck will be in my hot little hands, but I wanted to let you know it’s coming.

This deck offers bite-sized prompts, perspectives and practices to support you on those challenging days (ahem, all of them) of living with a chronic condition. Sometimes, all you need is a little inspiration or encouragement to shift the trajectory of your day.

I’ll be announcing pre-sale details in the coming weeks, once I’ve secured production and delivery costs, but in the meantime, if you think you’d fancy a deck, let me know (the more decks I print at once, the better the price for all of us)! 

Aaaannnnd….I’m writing a tiny book!

As I may have mentioned before, I’m participating in The Tiny Book course this fall (starting today!), so within the 45-day program, I’ll have authored, designed and (hopefully) produced my first tiny book…if all goes as planned! Luckily, my friend and colleague Katie is also participating, so we’re planning to keep each other inspired and accountable. I can’t wait to see how it turns out to share it with you.

That’s all for now, dear readers. I hope your summer was as you had hoped, that you are rested and ready for the imminent shift in season, and if you’re not, that you’ll schedule some rest time for yourself. Be safe, be healthy, take care of each other and keep finding the joy in life.

Jilly