Transitions
by Linda Tarrant

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Some people believe the New Year starts in January. I disagree. I believe that the calendar should begin in September and end in August. September has an energy about it that signals new beginnings. After all, that’s when school starts. It’s exciting to start the new year, but we may also be filled with anxiety and apprehension about the unknown experiences ahead. Fall is a time of transition and transitions are often filled with contradictions and mixed feelings. We return from holidays rested and renewed, but we face the mountain of work that accumulated while we were away. Fall is not a simple season. But I love it, anyway.

Maybe that’s because my life, like the Fall, is full of contradictions. I love my work and yet I can hardly wait for my next holiday. I believe we are what we eat but I certainly do not want to wear what I’ve been eating all summer. I want to be fit and healthy, but my summer exercise schedule has been dominated by sitting, reading and pondering the beauty of nature.

When September comes, the contradictions seem glaring and the transition into the new year can be jarring. Labour Day arrives - which is really New Year’s Day to me - and everything jumps into high gear. I leap from playtime into worktime, bigtime. Hot and laid-back turn into cool and frantic as soon as August turns into September. All of a sudden I’m back at it. Driving faster, more impatient, in a hurry. Summer was so peaceful. It was filled with friends, barbecues, beaches and space. When Fall starts, the spaces fill up so quickly. I take time for myself in the summer, focusing on reflection and renewal. When September hits, my focus shifts 180?. It happens so fast, I’m surprised I don’t get whiplash.

The transition from Summer to Fall, from the old year into the new, is part of life. One of my challenges is to figure out how to make the leap more smoothly. Maybe I need to learn how to carry the summertime sense of peacefulness and fun into a Fall that’s filled with work, deadlines and stress. I love what I do, but I think I would be better at it if I had more balance in my year and knew how to integrate my seasons more effectively.

So as we enter this new year, eager to make the transition and deal with all the contradictions that lie ahead, I’ve decided to prepare myself by making some New Year’s resolutions. First, I want to celebrate the past year and thank God that I lived through it. It wasn’t an easy year. I want to make the next one better. I want to bring joy and peacefulness into every day. I don’t know how this new year will unfold, but I want to open myself up to transforming. I’m a bit anxious about the possibilities. I think I feel change in the wings. But I am so fortunate to have wonderful people in my life who love and support me. With their help, I think I’m ready to take the leap. How about you? Here’s to a great New Year!