Octobering
October is my favorite. It’s the month I feel most inspired and motivated. The weather is perfect. I pursue a new project or hobby. And I always have a long list of October-specific food, outfits and music to enjoy.
The more I thought about my love for October, I realized what I love most…it’s the gateway that opens into the dark months of winter. I recognize you might hate winter, but hear me out.
To me, the dark, cold months mean I hunker down and get quiet, introspective and cozy. I surround myself with creative projects and make too much soup. When the season changes, it gives me an opportunity to change my pace and adjust my focus.
Maybe a change in pace or focus is something you’ve been craving. Or maybe you’ve been talking for months about “finding balance” but continue to not make changes. The dark, cold months might be exactly what you need!
What better way to gear up than with something I call, “Octobering.”
Octobering: (noun)
1. the act of utilizing the month of October to optimize your entry into the winter months.
2. maximizing October to ensure you do your favorite seasonal shit before it gets too chilly.
(3. according to Wikipedia, it’s also a naming ceremony from early-era Soviet Union.)
Here are some examples:
One year I tried “Friend-tober” and reconnected with as many friends as I could (especially the notoriously hard-to-schedule ones). This rekindled friendships that sustained me through the winter.
I’ve done “Veg-tober” and experimented with a bunch of new vegetable recipes. I also did “Octo-barre” to kick-start my fitness through a serious of torturous tiny movements in barre class. That October was admittedly less fun.
The point is…you can either complain winter is coming or you can turn it into an opportunity and spend the next 31 days preparing with new, fun rituals.
Or at the very least, you can wear cute tights and drink tea while listening to Elliott Smith and painting a piece of furniture with the breezy windows open while pumpkin bread bakes in your oven. (I’m trying to be as efficient as possible with my October list this year.)
I’m still narrowing in on what Octobering will look like for me this year - maybe you can give me inspiration!
Ok fine, I’ll do some Octobering. Where should I start?
Make a list of five things you’d enjoy doing before the fall season slips away. Think about favorite fall memories from as far back as you can remember. What sticks out?
What is something you wish to do that you keep saying you’re “too busy” to do? How can you use the winter months to slow your pace and take on this endeavor? What needs to happen in the next month to prepare you?
Ok, you really don’t like winter. What do you like least about it? How can you shift your perspective? (“It’s too cold!” - ok, stay inside and try something new! “It’s so dark all the time.” - let’s go candle shopping and hunt for cute new light fixtures! “I just want to be in bed and eat snacks.” - I dunno, that sounds dope.)
