September: Curiosity
Here is how I know it is about to be Autumn: I am wearing cardigans again. I am rewatching Gossip Girl, making spiced tea to have with it. Our calendar has reflected it for a few weeks. September 1st is Autumn.
Another way I know it is about to be Autumn is that I have a burning desire to change everything about my life and a blinding optimism that I actually will. Every September, the Pinterest girl New Year planner is in me. It is the freshest and blankest type of page. It makes me want to buy binders and Ticonderoga No. 2 pencils. I am unsure exactly what it is; it must be all that start-of-the-school-year energy. I am a student inside a classroom, but I am also a student of life! Thank goodness those types of students last forever. I am nothing without my desire to learn.
There are some lessons you simply have to keep learning. Mine is that discovery is the very thing that makes life worth living. Even when times are cloudy, and it feels like I will never make my way out. I am always stronger for it when the light comes back. It comes back much sooner when I stay interested in and invested in the world around me. When I am unafraid to be wrong, or ask why, or turn my attention to something I have been ignoring for far too long.
As long as you remain curious, you will always find what you need. The act of opening your heart is all the invitation the light needs.
September: Curiosity
Sticking to routines, Asking questions, and Going analog
Since I started making these monthly intentions, I have dedicated March to creativity. It is the first crack of light after the seemingly unending Winter, and this past Winter has felt eternal. March is when everything starts to thaw and stretch its limbs again, so do not forget to stretch yours, too.
Create a fall itinerary
Think of this as your assigned homework for the season. Films you want to watch (Girl vs Monster is my choice), exhibitions you want to visit, restaurants you want to try, clothes you want to wear, etc.
Do one ugly little chore
This is one of the really unfun ones. I promise you will thank yourself later. If you need some inspiration: I just put all of my laundry away (brave, I know) and reorganized my dresser. It sucked, but not as much as I thought it would, and it did not even take that long!
Buy a fresh notebook
I know you have a million empty ones lying around as it is, but please… this is your permission to ignore all of them and get a brand-new one. It is like instant productivity gratification to remove one from its little plastic sleeve.
Go analog
Going analog is hardly something you need to save for a specific season, but Autumn is as good a reason as any. Do not let short days and cold nights mean you lose yourself in an infinite scroll. There are plenty of ways to stay (slightly sometimes) offline in my previous entries, but I am really into crosswords right now as a between-task that does not involve your phone.
Sharpen your curiosity
If you stay curious, you do not have to get curious! One of the best ways to keep it is by being present with the world around you. Less time on your phone, more time in the world. Ask lots of questions, get to know new people, and dive into a topic you have always wanted to learn more about. It is never too late to know more.
I hope you have a bountiful Autumn!
With love,
Kierstyn
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