Will Embracing Seasonality Fix My Entire Life?

The leaves have started to change and the entire world has gotten a bit more tolerable.

I am not a summer person in any way, shape, or form. I find the entire season a hot, sweaty mess of bugs and… I can’t underemphasize the sweat. I know I’m one of few people who get seasonal depression in the summer and while that has a huge impact and sadly isn’t something I can really change, a part of me wonders how much of it is brain chemistry that I can’t do anything about and how much of it is me just not helping myself?

Lithuania is the most seasonal place I’ve ever lived. Don’t get me wrong, I loved living in Ireland but there just weren’t seasons. The country turned a vibrant green every spring then one day there’d be a windstorm and suddenly the next day it was winter. I think seeing the leaves slowly change here has made me want to have a life that’s more… more?

This also coincided with Pinterest giving me oh-so-many suggestions for fall bucket lists. My friends and I would all make activity lists for summer when we were in uni and we had so much fun comparing them and ultimately not finishing them but we enjoyed the things we did.

Yesterday I was sitting at a terrace having a drink with a friend and I saw a very well-dressed couple that appeared to have just dressed up to go on a picnic. I feel like I always see people who do cool things and wonder how they came up with that. I know a huge part is having the motivation to actually do something but maybe that can start as simply as deciding that I want to.

I’ve compiled a bunch of the lists on my own Pinterest board here. I know a lot of them probably won’t happen either because they’re American-centric or just because of my preferences. Even if I did have a football game around me, it’s not exactly something that appeals to me. The thing is, I also feel like maybe I’m at the point where I’m not doing anything so maybe an unfinished list is better than just not doing anything.

I know that fixing life is a lot deeper than just trying a new hobby or watching a movie but what if the little actions of having something intentional to do add up?

I think it’s at least worth a shot.

I have the luxury of time to try things and I think I finally might have a hint of motivation.

P.S. I know that the autumnal equinox isn’t until the 22nd, but it’s been too much summer so I’m letting myself start early. I am 100% in pumpkin mode unless the opportunity to swim comes up. My little challenge to myself, my rules.