Seasons of Change

Seasons of Change
By Ollie.

We are in September. The leaves are turning yellow, the air is crisp, and cafes are advertising pumpkin spice lattes while Halloween stock fills the shops. I wake up freezing and drive home in darkness. But I don’t let the change in season bring me down. As the excitement of the holidays approaches, I see autumn not only as a shift in weather, but also in mentality.

Just as people embrace spring cleaning as a fresh start, autumn is the perfect time to cozy up, keep warm, and reflect. For me, that means throwing myself into crafts and leaning into home comforts—a good cup of tea, a biscuit, and the simple joy of a walk through crunchy leaves. Sometimes no antidepressant can compete with the calm of a long stroll, bundled up in layers. In Japan, this is known as forest bathing, and it reminds me of a quote I once read: “Take a walk in nature and you will come out feeling taller than the trees.”

Of course, positivity doesn’t come from magic remedies—it’s often as simple as changing your surroundings and embracing quiet moments. Giving yourself a break from the constant pressure to do, do, do allows space to breathe and heal. Too often, people rush from summer straight into Christmas without pausing to notice the beauty of what’s here already.

That’s why the “-ber months” are so valuable. They offer a pit stop before life speeds up again. And if you stop for a moment, retie your laces, and take in the season, you’ll realise change can be comforting too.

As the days get colder and darker, I find my routine shifts. I wrap up, read by the fire, and choose to stay in rather than go out. It’s also a time to take stock of what I have, instead of always chasing the next best thing.

One of my favourite rituals is making soup—throwing together root veg or chicken from the fridge, frying up a big pot, and blending it into something golden and creamy. It warms the soul (and occasionally burns the tongue—whoops). Cooking autumnal food and making spooky crafts keeps me present, grounded, and busy. It’s my way of embracing change rather than fearing it.

In many ways, I resonate with autumn being the “least popular” season. It’s a time for introverts like me to nestle into cozy corners. And, of course, Halloween lets me dress up and enjoy being spooky without turning heads for a change.

September also brings a sense of fresh starts—just as school begins again. It makes me think about what I want to carry with me into the rest of the year, and what I’d rather leave behind.

All in all, autumn reminds me to hold onto cozy practices, indulge in little treats, and focus on the present. Because before you know it, winter will arrive, and the cycle of the seasons—and the seasons of change—begins again.

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