Amanda Lamb: Fall renewal

Most people consider springtime the season of renewal. As flowers rise out of the soil, spreading their colorful petals, we come out of the cocoon of winter and allow ourselves to bloom with the return of the warmth. We raise our faces to the sunshine and imagine the grays of winter melting away. But for me, September has always been a time to hit the reset button. As soon as cooler mornings set in, football takes over, and the whiff of pumpkin spice fills the air, it feels like a time for change.

When my children were young, this was the time they were back in school and back into a routine which also involved many extracurricular activities. While life became exponentially busier, it also became much more regimented. I don’t know about you, but I do better in general with guardrails than I do with no schedule. Although, I’m learning how to better operate with more flexibility.

Now that it’s fall, my youngest daughter is back in college. Our trips to the beach are dwindling as the weekends get busier with obligations at home. And speaking of home, the detritus of a summer spent living and not organizing has left my closets and drawers begging for some attention. So, my renewal will begin again this year.

As a type-A person, this usually starts with organizing, not only my house, but my goals. As an independent podcaster, author, and public speaker, I will be looking at what’s on my plate and decide what stays and what goes. If I’ve learned anything from my three-quarter’s of a year interviewing amazing women for my podcast, AGELESS, I’ve learned that sometimes we need to rearrange our plates, taking away what does not serve us, and adding more of what does.

Thankfully, I’ve worked way ahead on my podcast and have banked multiple episodes with my goal being 53 for the year. This gives me time and space to process my plate and decide what comes next. I didn’t have the true luxury of this kind of reimagination before I was an empty nester, so I’m taking advantage of it now. The possibilities are endless, and with each advertisement for a pumpkin spice latte that pops up on my phone, I know the season of transformation is once again at hand…