September is the perfect time to start again. If you pause for a moment, you can feel it... the vibration of newness… Whether you have children starting (or going back to) school this September or not, there is something in the air signaling renewal and fresh starts at this time of year. Our bodies have the memory of it! :)
September is a bit like January only better, because the end of the year is in sight, whereas in January there is the whole stretch of hte year ahead. If we set a new goal now, we can achieve it by the end of the year. 2024 can still be the year that we started a new habit or transformed an old one.
Beginning anew is also a name for a key Plum Village practice for maintaining healthy relationships and healing difficult relationships. You can read more about it here. It’s also the practice of knowing that every day and every moment is new. It’s a practice of letting go of the old and embracing the new, starting again.
Why not harness this September energy to make positive changes in your life? Maybe join the gym or start park run? Take up journaling? Write down three things you’re grateful for every morning? How about adding a meditation or self-compassion practice into your daily routine? I have two new courses starting next week. A Buddhist Book club, an 11-week course on Thich Nhat Hanh’s book ‘Anger’ and an 8-week intensive Mindful Self-Compassion course.
Making a renewed commitment to taking care of our wellbeing in September will pay dividends in the cold and dark months ahead. Positive habits lead to positive change. What would you like to change or start this month?
If you can’t commit to a course, check out my 17 free meditation practices on Insight Timer. Let me know how you get on and what way you'll beginning anew this September.
Remember the best way to practice is with others so always share your practice when you can.