A New Season: Pause and go gently…
September 3, 2025
| As we edge towards a new season, a fresh academic year (whether you have kids or not), it can bring up some mixed feelings for women at any stage of life, but perhaps more so in midlife. It certainly is for me….. Some resistance, even bracing, around the day to day routine and juggling of it all. Some gratitude for a break over summer and a different rhythm. Some grief as my eldest will have his last first day of school next week. Some hope to continue feeling more open, expansive and calm that I have felt much of this summer. How about you? The start of a new season can be a great opportunity for us to take stock of where we are. If we pause and don´t just throw ourselves headlong into the lists, routine and doing of it all (easier said than done sometimes though). Pausing even a moment to acknowledge our feelings, what is going well, what we aspire more of, less of as we transition to Autumn/Spring depending on where you are. So here are some questions for you to ponder over a cuppa, journal about, meditate on or whatever works for you! – What have been the highlights over the last few months personally or professionally (doesn´t always need to be anything huge)? – How are you feeling right now about this last season? – How do you feel about this next season? – What would you like to feel more of? Less of? – How could you experiment with creating more of the feelings you want? – What might that mean saying “Yes!” to? And “No” to? – How can you best support yourself to create these changes and tweaks (e.g. daily or weekly check-in, having a support buddy, recognising small and big wins)? And, super-important for us all, trying to remember to go gently into this new season. We can so often put pressure and expectations on ourselves that can create more stress and overwhelm at an already busy time. I can vividly recall the expectations I placed on myself as a child at the start of a new school year, usually how neat, tidy and disciplined I would be and somehow I could never meet my perfectionist standards (if you have seen my handwriting you will understand!) This often led to chastising myself and giving up on even the smallest of improvements. Can you relate at all? So, how can you go more gently and recognise even the smallest of changes? Whatever you wish this new season looks more like for you, sending you love, support and bundles of compassion as we transition – together. Take good care, Emma I so LOVE to hear from you, do comment below with any thoughts, aspirations or questions to keep the conversation going. |
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About The Author
Emma Thorne Lees
British, but living in Spain mum of 2 teens, a dog, lover of the outdoors, food, travel, exploring, connecting, learning. Sober, recovering overthinker, people pleaser, hyperachiever. Trying to remember to be kind and compassionate with myself as much as I am with others every day. Transformational life coach for midlife women empowering women to break free from overthinking, overwhelm, uncertainty to create clarity, connection and calm.