New Year’s Resolutions

I’ve said it before—and I’ll say it again—September is my favourite month. There’s a degree of bias in my preference with it being the month of my birthday, but the primary reason is that for me, September marks the start of a new year. It’s that back to school feeling that is so deeply engrained in me and I rejoice at any excuse to buy new stationery, delighting in the order that September brings. 

With the change in season comes a new optimism, we wave goodbye to summer–the hedonistic friend you drink a zillion Aperol Spritz with, that same one that invites you to a barbecue every night of the week, knowing that we can look to sensible September for toast and tea and telly. It’s the perfect time for recalibration­–September is still warm and golden–and turning over new leaves now, feels far more achievable than in the doom and gloom of January’s blues.

So, my new year starts now, and I look forward to the fullness that the next few months bring. Time seems more precious in autumn, in summer the days blur into nights and weeks roll into weekends, but come September the scholastic structure hits us all. We’re building up to soup season and lazy breakfasts on Saturday mornings and long walks on crisp Sunday afternoons. It’s time to start digging out winter boots and chunky knits and soon we’ll be curling up by fires in cosy pubs, no longer feeling guilty for being inside.

My resolutions in September aren’t extensive, but it’s always a good point to take stock. This year I intend to keep writing and creating for The Zest, even when the busyness of life tries to get in the way. In fact, having been banging on about structure, having a plan for the Zest and boldly publishing my aim to stick at it seems to be the way to go (who knew!)

So, here goes, with autumn firmly on the horizon we await to see what this new year brings.