Sweet, Sassy n' Emotional Autumn ~ by Tammra Broughton

 The turning colours of and the falling of leaves, cool weather, rain and sometimes even snow in some areas, can represent change, letting go, slowing down, harvesting, showing of true colours and even death and it's not always so easy to adjust to... ​

We go from hot days and light meals to cooler, wet days and begin to crave more grounding foods like root vegetables. This transition, if not done gradually or at all, can bring the health out of balance. 

We all love the vibrant colours of fall and some even say it’s their favourite season. We hang on to the last bit of energy we have from the summer sun, yet soon enough, there comes the grieving of summer OR the “off” season blues, before the bountiful snow of winter. It can seem too long of a season for winter enthusiasts and some people get bored or sad.

Maybe I can help a wee bit …

New Ideas
This can be an exciting time for new ideas, mostly because now we don’t have parties, sports or beaches to occupy our time. I recommend letting these ideas swirl through and around you first before getting started on them. Then, choose the ones that inspire you most and let these ideas seed and incubate. I tend to think all of my ideas are good, so I seem to learn this lesson of slowing down and percolating on ideas first, less than easy. As we all know, if we don’t sync with the season and cycles, we can burn out which can lead us to getting sick, which forces us to slow down (or stop) anyways. But at a cost. 

Slowing Down & Letting Go
Letting go is never easy. Trust me, as a childless-only-child I tend to get attached to people and ideas pretty quickly. My nature, like most women, is to want to help, fix, give and nurture and when I can’t “make" something work, it can be frustrating. Once faced with some nasty experiences- we learn quickly that letting go is really about survival. So, how does one “let go”? I see too many people look outside of themselves, or needing validation or permission from others to let go, step into or change their own lives. Well, if this is you- I grant you permission now! Gently release ties with people / and things that suck the life out of you and find YOUR groove again. Start a meditation practise (try Insight Timer - so good), pick up an old hobby or start a new one - like journalling or painting, sign up for stretching / trauma informed movement class (or begin a home practise), try a conscious dance class (aka intuitive dancing) OR try it on your own - turn your favourite songs on and up and boogie like just can’t boogie no-mo’ or you may even want to let yourself dance slowly. Un-bored yourself. Break the rules… OR simply rest. Change is the theme, flow WITH it and don’t be attached to the outcome. This is a beautiful time to experiment and Invent YOUR own way forward. 

Harvest & Hibernate
Even if you don’t have a garden, you can begin to get into the harvest mood. Start collecting recipes, bring out your winter clothes, look through local markets / craft fairs to find a new sweater or maybe some toasty-warm slippers and while you’re there, pick up some local vegetables, tonics, herbs and jerky. Start collecting pinecones, cedar or river rocks and place them around your home or hey, try making a smudge stick and burn it. Being out in Nature, even if it’s raining, can allow you to be slow, get some fresh air and maybe receive some inspiration. If you can make a fire, do it. Prepare to get cozy for winter and treat yourself to some warm and hearty soup, hot drinks (try a turmeric latte) and warm baths. Look into spices and essential oils that connect you more deeply with the season. Get to know you and practise gratitude most of all. 

True Colors
This isn’t always a negative by the way, although this time of year seems to make us more emotional and vulnerable and not everyone deals with it well. This resistance to the new season, can lead us to feeling stressed and make us less than desirable to be around (aka being a grump). I truly believe that if we can let our expectations go, like shedding a layer of skin (slowly, like a snake), then we can consciously move into this season and then into winter more ease-fully. Shedding the old and letting your true colours shine, can allow for new relationships, ideas, jobs, adventures and this can show us new things about ourselves.

I have suggested a lot of new ideas here, and some may be out of your comfort zone or maybe you are already feeling overwhelmed. For the go-getters or extroverts, maybe slow it down and take things off the to-do list (ehemm, that’s me), choose one or two things that resonate deeply and focus inward. For the slow movers or introverts, try something new or work more closely with gently facing a fear, something that may have been holding you back. Either way, let the darkness in, embrace it, because without it there is no light. And, always,  all-ways, be kind to yourself in this process. 

Tammra Broughton is the founder of The New Groove Revolution. She can be found working magic in her pa’jammies from her home in Comox, BC, treating herself and her beloved Tony, to delicious (and yep, healthy) foods, and / or dj’ing and dancing  to her favourite tracks.