Embracing the September Shift
I’m definitely feeling the adult version of that Back-to-School feeling this September, how about you?After the summer, I find that September brings a different energy and the transition back to being serious again, picking up momentum, going back to work, or back to school can be a little jarring to negotiate. This summer I took some play time out between the continuing work to finish the new collection. We explored the mountains in Utah, California, and Colorado, and yes, I lugged my small suitcase full of fabric swatches, production samples, and sketches around all 3 states for 6 weeks.
While spending time in awe-inspiring nature provided a much-needed break to body, mind, and spirit, unsurprisingly the summer g of the working nomad lifestyle has worn off and I feel ready to settle back into some form of normalcy and refocus on the bigger picture.
The September Reset Concept
We’re getting closer to the wire for the launch of the new Isy B. collection, and releasing the results of 9 months of hard work into the world… no pressure Isy. I’ve recently learned about the concept of the September Reset. It was described to me as an opportunity to get ready for the final push to the end of the year - (Where has 2023 gone BTW?!) by grounding yourself, evaluating the year so far, refocusing on goals and intentions for the remainder of the year, and getting motivated again. Looking back on 2023, those resolutions I blithely made about having a calmer and more grounded year in 2023 seem like they were made by an altogether different person living a totally different life! I can hand on heart say that though nothing has gone the way I planned, by some miracle, I’ve still found myself generally around where I need to be, even if none of the actual steps I took to get here look anything like I imagined. And boy, has it been a humbling lesson for me! While I appreciate my considerable personal power and agency in this world, I have also been reminded that there are forces, events, and circumstances beyond my control, and in the last 9 months I have had to learn to be okay with that.Have you ever experienced situations where everything that can go wrong seems to go wrong?
Looking back at 2023 from one perspective, the year seemed chock full of those situations. From designs that have had to be scrapped after months of development, to team members who haven’t worked out, to my traveling halfway across the world in search of something only to discover that was not at all what I wanted.
But seen from another perspective this year has also been an opportunity to learn to find any kind of meaning in setbacks, to try to consciously choose how to respond when unexpected challenges come up, and to practice the art of resilience.
Moving Forward with Renewed Strength
So the new-to-me concept of a September reset has been a great way for me to get back to center again, to get steady within myself, ready to face the final few months of 2023.It's also been an opportunity to take stock of all I’ve accomplished this year despite the setbacks, and celebrate myself for my growth over the last 9 months. I can also consciously take the lessons I’ve learned this year into 2024, as a hopefully wiser being. With every baptism of fire, with each new challenge we meet and overcome, every time we let go of the things we can’t control, and allow grace to take over, we're evolving (however slowly) to a better version of ourselves.
From this perspective, everything that happens can indeed seem to be working for you.
Reading and re-reading this quote from one of my teachers Silver Birch helped me get a little more perspective on some of it:
“All the things that are worth doing and worth achieving are those that are the most difficult to perform. The path of attainment is not an easy one. It is full of difficulties, of obstructions, of hampering that come in the way. Those things are part of the building of character, so that the way you face your difficulties determines the growth of your soul.”
Now take a deep breath, and let’s all resolve to continue forward to the end of 2023, meeting all it brings with renewed strength and greater wisdom. Let’s go kick some ass!