F*ck Fall Y’all
My BRAT Autumn, never demure always mindful
After Labor Day, the east coast explodes with cozy blankets, the onslaught of tartan, cotton shifts to wool blends, socks rapture my toes. The leaves turn orange, cowhide patterns spot the maples in our neighborhood. Small patches emerge, the sun shifts to show a longing of edits. Menus move from berry tarts to butternut bisques moving boldly on from summer vacations.
Big box stores slap us in the face with faux mums and grim reaper yard decor next to the start of Christmas holiday merch. Let the countdown to New Year’s Eve begin.
It’s seems that the ‘demure and mindful’ social media trend reveling in a low key lifestyle, only applied to June, July and August.
The fall season is not demure. Unfortunately, like so much of the year, it is getting to be too much.
No one can keep track of all of all that comes with sweater weather. Personally and professionally, I’ve tried paper calendars, white boards, apps, print outs, emails, texts, we purchased and hung up a Hearth with google color coding. My kids ask me what’s next, my husband literally cannot keep up with the moving target of our schedules. My irritation increased every Sunday, not from work scaries but from an overwhelming schedule.
Rather than excitement about growth, learning or fun I wonder if my gas tank is full.
What’s the Autumn rush?
It’s time, apparently, to get serious. Seasonally, it's time to button up the fruits of our spring and summer harvest. The ‘fall y’all’ hustle is in direct conflict with mother nature. I’ll never recommend moving counterclockwise with mama earth.
Do you notice the big fall push?
Final corporate budgets and projects need to be wrapped up
Year end reviews link to bonuses
Exams, tests mark the semesters
School fundraisers and sports line my calendars
Countdown to holiday shopping dollars start advertisers ramping up sales
Client events, workshops, meetings, happy hours, fundraisers grab any weeknight they can find
Well, F*ck Fall Y’all! It’s time to be mindful and have a BRAT season. Chappell Roan, a 20 something pop sensation created a BRAT movement. Unlike my childhood brat definition of a tantrums and tears, Roan begs us all to be authentic and go with our own flow instead of society’s plans for us to live as everyone else is.
In 2024, Fall is less about letting go and more about managing new operating procedures on the home and work. Schedules explode every afternoon Monday through Sunday like an overstuffed suitcase at the end of a long vacation.
I’m not demure but I’m mindful. Here is my holistic approach to accepting my imperfections while embracing the chaos, aka BRAT Fall y’all.
Fall inquiries to let go instead of pushing through and missing it all.
What do I enjoy doing at work and home? How can I do more of that and take 1-3 things off of my plate and just let there be chaos?
What do we need to say no to as a family? Invites, extra practices, added activities or travel for the holidays?
Where can we take real breaks?
What do I need to take credit for and be less demure about? This includes professional requests, money and even collaborations?
What will not get done that I’m ok with? What can I let go of?
Here are my personal notes.
1- I’m embracing prepared meals from Wegman’s and helping out where I see high impact in the kids’ school.
2- Friday nights at home. No more Friday plans for us means eating together, sleeping better and no rushing around.
3- Family memory-making events are on the calendar through December. It’s a break for all of us to take day trips together
4- Leaning on my colleagues to do heavy lifting, just like I am for upcoming events. Being clear on roles is the #1 must have.
5- My book is on hold. It will happen, but these next 4 months are not the right time to push through this.
I’d love to hear what you are letting go of.
