If you’re anything like me, this time of year can be challenging. When the clocks roll back and it starts getting dark outside at an earlier time, it takes a real toll on my well-being (I love the sunshine, y’all). Although I wait all year to see the trees change colors from vivid greens to bright oranges and reds and get so excited when I can finally pull out the cozy sweaters from underneath my bed that I forget I have when it’s 90+ degrees outside, I also find myself feeling more reflective and operating at a much slower pace when the season changes from summer to fall.
I keep having to remind myself that this is normal. In the northern hemisphere, our bodies naturally slow down during this time of year. We are animals connected to the Earth’s natural cycles, after all. Do we criticize bears for going into hibernation when it starts getting cold outside? What about birds – do we talk negatively about them when they fly south to protect themselves from the chill of winter? No. We don’t. Just writing this makes me chuckle a little because the thought of it is so absurd.
We should have the same understanding for ourselves as we do for other animals and living beings, like the trees whose colorful leaves we marvel at every September/October. Trees inherently know when it’s time to change, and so do we. We just have to tap into our connection to Earth to rediscover that inner knowing, which requires us to slow down, pause, and breathe – something this frantic society often doesn’t allow us to do, especially as Black women.
We can take steps to prioritize our wellness, especially during the fall and winter months, when feelings of isolation and sadness can intensify. When we feel our bodies naturally start to slow down but we’re being asked to do more and more by systems that could care less about our health, we have the power to say no or to put in as little effort as possible to maintain our own well-being.
We should prepare ourselves for the fact that we may not be able to operate at the same speed that we did in the summer or spring, and not take on any guilt or shame when this happens. We are living beings that operate just like other living beings do. We cannot separate ourselves from the Earth’s natural cycles and should not be forced to.
If you’re also feeling called to embrace slowness, ease, and introspection during this season, know that this is natural. You’re not alone in what you’re feeling – just look around at nature if you ever need confirmation. Despite what the powers that be say, we are not robots. We need rest. And if it’s not being given, we can take it to preserve ourselves for seasons to come.