Can you feel the change in the air? The nights are becoming slightly cooler, the days shorter and the sun is a bit lower in the sky casting long evening shadows. What's different you ask? Well, it is September, yes already. The ninth month of the year.
September is full of cool facts for example:
Pain awareness month
Hispanic Heritage Month
Apple harvest begins
International Sudoku Day 10th
Make Your Bed Day and Grandparents Day11th
Dia de la Quesadilla and One Hit Wonder day 25th (my bday!)
And tons more
If you look outside September has its own show of flowers with vibrant purple asters and lovely morning glories, love and affection.
The Harvest Month
September was called Haervest-monath or Harvest Month because it was considered the time to bring in the final harvest and prepare for the colder, leaner winter months. And if your like me and enjoys some moon facts, you've guessed it, the full moon in this month is called the Harvest Moon. This year's harvest moon will be full and bright on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 5:59 a.m. EST in the Northern Hemisphere.
I am a Moon nerd:)
A Month of Transitions
A not too cool fact about September is that it is also known as “Stresstembter”.
More practically, it is also a month of transitions. September heralds the end of summer, fun, beach parties, and the return of routines such as school and work. (I’m not looking forward to the commute and traffic.)
The sudden change in routine also brings stress and anxiety to our school-aged cuties. I would know with my 5-year-old grandson and 8-year-old granddaughter. Change can feel disruptive and unsettling, especially at their age. I am not immune. Living in a multigenerational household, I also juggle new routines and seeing how I can help to make these transitions smoother.
Let's not forget the elephant in the room. It is also the third year living with the pandemic in the air, thank goodness this September, there is a semblance of normalcy with regular school activities and some people returning to the workplace.
But don't let your guard down too far, after all, we are going into the Flu season. (Get your Flu shot, if you can) that's the nurse in me talking.
The reality is that September is a month filled with changes, some beautiful like the magnificent sunsets, and cooler weather, but some changes such as the start of school, returning to work, organizing carpools, dealing with increased traffic and weather changes affecting moods and mental wellbeing makes September one of the most stressful months of the year.
The Season Transitions
The changing of the season and shorter day length can affect your mood. I did not know why I got so sad and lethargic as the autumn months began and the leaves started falling. Ask my daughter. She celebrated after I started antidepressant therapy and when I did not even acknowledge when summer was over. I was feeling the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) a type of depression, that affects the hormone serotonin which changes your mood, appetite, and sleep. It is believed that the lack of sunlight and lower serotonin levels can lead to feelings of depression.
However, it does not have to be.
Breathe!
There are ways to cope. I wrote about a few ways in my previous blogs on wellness and well-being and coping with depression. Gardening and being outside, feeling the sun's rays does do wonders to help lift my spirits and it's free therapy! Even in the winter months that celestial Vitamin D. GARDENING THERAPY!!
So let's celebrate September
Welcoming in September with it's beautiful purple and gold Aster flower. Such royal colors, beckoning us to stand tall and take September with confidence. Armed to face these September stressors with mindfulness, using planners to keep track of events, not taking on more than you are capable of doing, and practicing saying NO.
DO NOT FORGET TO PRIORITIZE YOUR NEED FOR REVITALIZATION AND REST.
Your future self will thank you for the decisions you make today and the goals you accomplish.
At times we all feel stressed, so during this month let's try to take care of our body, keep hydrated, don't skip meals, remember to rest, and stay on your sleep schedule. Spend time in quiet breathing, spend time exercising, walking, swimming, and dancing. Connect with others just to talk and catch up and thank them for performing acts of kindness. Remember you are just one person doing the best you can. Enjoy the moment, sing, dance, be mindful, and intentional. Look at the beautiful sky,
feel the cool breeze, and pet your dog, cat, or iguana. Enjoy each step.
Don’t know about you, but all this talk about September has me singing Earth, Wind & Fire’s song “September” that contagious chorus melody
"Ba de ya - say do you remember"
"Ba de ya - dancing in September"
"Ba de ya - never was a cloudy day”
I hear you bellowing…Ba de ya 😄
Dancing in September!
~Deb
I nearly forgot! Another really cool fact related to this month:
September is my birth month, Yep I’m a September babe! Born on the cusp of the 2 zodiac signs. I share more Libra traits, of creativity, being analytical, loving harmony and balance—a definite air sign girl. So Happy Birthday Me!!!!
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