Resisting the Urge to Jump Seasons

As I write this we are going through a mini autumn in August. The summer here in Ontario has been hot, but I wouldn’t say it's abnormally hot. It feels like a summer from my childhood, just sunshine, heat and hazy skies. 30-40°c is what we've had all summer, heavy rain in the spring and I’d say a normal amount through the summer.

But when the temperature drops 20°c after multiple heat waves and we’re all reaching for sweaters it seems natural for our minds to shift into the next season. Social media gets filled with pumpkin spice, cozy coffee shots and gardens winding down or dying off. Rainy, cloudy posts about summer being gone, and the kids headed back to school fill our minds. In reality, though, it’s still August.

It is still summer. The fall equinox isn't until Sept 22nd 2025 and trust me, there will be plenty of time for fallen leaves, pumpkin patches and endless spiced latte pics.

Can we slow down for just a minute?

Winter this year lasted forever, and spring took its sweet time leaving as well. Summer feels like it just showed up and already people are talking about fall, one woman on my Instagram is buying and setting up Halloween decor. To each their own but why…..?

Why is it so hard for us to enjoy the current season before we rush into the next?

As a Bioregional Herbalist, I find it increasingly difficult to simultaneously live in the moment while preparing for the season ahead. Many remedies need time to infuse or macerate. Typically 4-6 weeks for most things. So this means I am currently thinking about fall remedies like elderberry syrup, fire cider and cold and flu preparations for the dark months ahead. This coupled with the appearance of Goldenrod, Sunflowers and growing Pumpkins, a garden in full harvest, preservation mode, the falling of leaves and a 20°c temperature drop, it's no wonder I feel shuffled into fall mode prematurely.

When I come back into the present though, I am reminded that it is, in fact, still summer. There are still beach days to be had, picnics to enjoy and sunsets to marvel over. There are still beautiful pink and purple blooms in the garden, beans to be picked and bees making their rounds. The temperature will rise again and there will be no need for sweaters for just a little while longer.

The world feels fast and hard these days. Stores are setting out Halloween decor already and then it'll be Christmas in no time. We weren't meant to live this way. Preparing for the next season is one thing, but shuffling through them without proper transition isn't ideal. We were meant to savour the seasons. To live slowly and more in tune with nature. To feel the earth and follow her lead, not what social media says or the big box stores. They want our money and our attention. That's it.

Let’s put down the giant skeleton yard decor and maybe even our phones and enjoy the few remaining weeks that summer has to offer. There will be plenty of time for Fall activities and posting about them when we get there.

Here are a few late summer activities to enjoy while we have the daylight:

• Beach or Lake Days
• Hiking
• Camping
• Fishing
• Canning and Preserving
• Foraging
• Farmers Markets
• Neighbourhood BBQ or Fish Fry
• Outdoor Movie Night
• Botanical Garden Tours - prime time for this
• County Fairs
• Ice Cream Tour
• Bonfires and S’mores
• Sunsets or Sunrises with Tea or Coffee
• Read a Book
• Bike Tour
• Journal - see prompts below

How are you slowing down and savouring the end of summer this year?

I'd love to hear all the ways you're staying in the moment and honoring the current season we are in. These acts, no matter how small help create a rhythm of a present life, well-lived.

Journal Prompts for Late Summer Reflection:

• What has come to fruition in your life this summer, both literally and metaphorically?
• What were the most joyful or nourishing moments of the season?
• What do you appreciate most about the long days and warm evenings of summer?
• Did this season feel more expansive or more overwhelming?
• How did you connect to nature this summer? What smells, tastes, sights keep you grounded in the moment?

~ K