By Bonnie Brown
Columnist

Fall seems to be the unofficial season of re-set. You know, like when you were a kid and starting a new school year, you had new shoes, new notebook, new outfits. And depending on the grade, new crayons! What a treat! We were transitioning from carefree to organized and intentional.

A re-set. I seem to carry that theme with me into adulthood.

Summer is the season of flexible routines. I don’t feel guilty if I postpone doing a chore. I know I’ll catch up later. That’s the summertime feeling of freedom. I am no longer employed, but I seem to have kept some of the routines I had. It was a less formal work environment during the summer months. Dress codes were relaxed, and priorities shifted with a little less urgency in completion of a particular task or schedule.

But come fall, everything revs up and re-sets. You feel the need to shake off the willy-nilly schedule you experienced in the summer. You have to get organized. You need to be efficient.

You want to re-set.

What does that mean to you? To me, it means a look around the house as to how I can redecorate by “shopping” the items I already have. For instance, I changed the lamps from one bedroom to another. It really gave me a sense of a slight transformation.  I can rearrange things and find it very satisfying because it gives me a feeling of having refreshed my home. It works for throw pillows. Sometimes it means decluttering. And of course, there may be the need for a new addition or purchase to complete my re-set and refresh.

This need to re-set also applies to my habits. For instance, I wanted to read a particular book over the summer. I started it, but didn’t get very far along with it. So, I will redirect my attention to carving out time to complete the novel.

I very likely will change our menu, adding meals or items that are all about the cooler weather that is part of the change of season. The same is true for my wardrobe. I have been eyeing my long-sleeve shirts and have added one or two to my casual wardrobe. It’s a throwback to my school days when I felt the need to update my clothing selections. I so enjoy having lunch with friends.

Sometimes for me at any rate, summer schedules are more complicated when trying to get together. There’s summer vacations and travel that comes into the mix of trying to gather with friends. Fall brings a more regimented calendar. Plus, I am even more eager to meet up with friends and get updates and enjoy visits with my circle of friends.

There is also the need to get more organized including updating my address book, giving some attention to my computer in terms of updating passwords and deleting items that are no longer needed. This takes quite a lot of time as I am so reluctant to delete emails. I have done so in the past only to regret that I can no longer access a document that would be useful to have retained.

I recently read that “After the birth and renewal of spring, and the freedom and youth of summer, autumn is a time for reflection and letting go of what doesn’t serve us.” I totally agree with this. Happy Fall, y’all!