An Autumn Reset dovetails nicely with the academic calendar. Not that long ago, the school year began in September. For weeks before the first day, most of us indulged in new notebooks, pens, backpacks and that oh so important outfit we would wear on our first day back. Though so much is now digital, there is similar excitement to beginning a new year.

I suggest that the beginning of an academic year is more significant than the beginning of a New Year. There may be similar hopes and dreams, goals and aspirations, but traditionally one’s New Year’s Resolutions disintegrate before the month is done. That which we define at the start of a new school year – in school or in our personal lives – has a better chance of realization. Whether first grade, senior year of high school, or somewhere along the journey of college or post graduate learning, there is a structure of study upon which to pin one’s efforts.

What about those who are no longer in an academic setting or endeavor? What is it about the fall months that stir in us so many of those “re-“ concepts such as reorganize, refresh, restart, replenish and, my word for today, RESET?

So often, in spite of ourselves, we find ourselves on a parallel course with the seasons of the year. (Mind you, I write as one who lives in Vermont where we experience at least four – though most suggest more – annual seasonal changes.) If you are familiar with the Five Element Theory, you know that we are now firmly functioning in the midst of the Metal Element’s season, a time of refining, stripping away what is no longer useful, and preparing for the winter ahead. As the leaves fall, colorful as they may or may not be, what is left is the tree which is, after all, the roots, trunk and branches while the leaves are only the costume.

Similarly, perhaps in the autumn we might feel impelled to pause, take a good look at ourselves, our values, and our daily lives to see if we are defining who we truly are or aspire to be.

I am a huge fan of a deliberate Autumn Reset. While one idea of a reset is to put things back in order or to go back to what was, another idea is to do so, but differently. As always, so much is personal. Personal wisdom. Have you slipped from the path you want to follow or do you think you might want to wander off on another? Is what you have been striving for no longer accessible or even desired? Where does it say we cannot change our minds or implement new ideas?

A reset, I believe, takes a lot of honest energy, effort, creativity and integrity. Furthermore, a reset cannot be done on the fly. In the midst of the hurricane of one’s daily, personal and professional life, it is beyond challenging to do a valid reset. In a perfect world, we could each take some very private time – hours, days, whatever is available, to think things through, assess, and, well, reset. And, I suggest, that reset needs to be clearly identified and stated if only to our own hearts.

A few weeks ago, someone dear to me provided a reset opportunity and then joined me for the adventure. Off season, in a lovely, private area of just a few  generationally owned old houses, we, and our dogs, indulged in an empty beach farther up the coast from the rugged, rocks we had previously enjoyed. By the best of coincidences, we watched the full Supermoon of October rise one evening followed by an exquisite sunrise the next morning. We walked and talked. The dogs swam and played in the sand. We explored unknown areas and took time to literally and figuratively frame and focus moon, sun, ocean, islands, unusual sights, spectacular light, grasses – all imbued with the joy of spending time together and knowing that life doesn’t often bless us this way.

My third and final full day of my gifted retreat, alone with my girls, was the fruit of the reset. In spite of a slow rain, we could barely stay indoors as I wanted to (pardon the pun) soak up all that made our experience rich. I wrote and wrote, made notes, outlined plans, created classes and training programs, reframed and reset personal goals and goals that I hope to bring to my clients and students. The ideas flowed along with energy in which to make these ideas realities.

I learned that along with new and different objectives comes hope, excitement, energy and a glimpse of clarity. I wish this for you, my friends. I wish for you the time to gift yourself the opportunity for reflection and then, yes, a reset. Perhaps you are satisfied with your road as well as your means of travel, and if so, bravo. Perhaps your personal reset is simply a boost to what you are already doing and where you are along the way. Self-acknowledgement and self-support. Perhaps there has been some upheaval in your life and you are still staggered by it. This could be time for you to right your own personal ship. Whatever your situation, to become aware of the unique energy of the season and allow it to carry you along, to sustain you and to provide the impulse to do what needs to be done is what is important in this moment.

To pause for a moment at the beginning of each day, to hesitate before leaping into the next thing on your to-do list, to take a deliberately mindful breath, to step outside for a grounding walk, to push that reset button – it is what I wish for you.

I close with one of my favorite quotations: “Take your good fortune and lift your life to its highest calling. Understand that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege. Use it. Dwell in possibility.” Oprah Winfrey