September dawns
‘How dazzling September sun lights up the evening sky. I am enchanted by its beauty.’ Catherine Best
Forget the start of the New Year – September brings with it a time of adventure; opportunity, and new beginnings. Autumn with its amazing colours of reds, browns and orange; the nights cooler, the days crisp. There is something magical about this time of year.
It’s also the start of a new academic term and whether you are at school, college or university, it brings with it a sense of hope. As the weeks and months advance and the seasons change from autumn to winter; spring and again to summer, this is a time to flourish. For inevitably the seasons will come around time and time again, and what we do with that time is our gift.
It’s the time when many of us decide what we are doing is no longer acceptable. With holidays over, a sense of apathy can also bring with it a determination to do something different. A recognition perhaps of not fulfilling potential, a sense of being left behind or simply wasting precious time that shifts the never-ending swing of the pendulum. Whether you act or you don’t, is entirely up to you?
For me, September is a time for new opportunities. It’s a time to think about the year ahead. It’s a time to challenge limiting beliefs. It’s a time for quiet optimism. A time to refocus and welcome new challenges into my life. It’s a time to nurture new skills. To meet new people. Foster new relationships. Reaffirm my commitment to life, and live it.
This year I started my Masters in Creative Writing with Teeside University. If I was going to write, I was going to do it properly.
One of my favourite quotes comes from Earl Nightingale, an American author, radio and motivational speaker.
‘Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use.’ Earl Nightingale.
So, it’s clear that investing in oneself, can reap benefits. Investing in myself, was one of my biggest personal and professional achievements. It has enriched my life beyond that of my dreams; enabling me to grow into the best version of myself. Reach my potential. Defeat my fear. Boost my confidence and self-esteem. Turn my dreams into reality.
Investing in myself has enabled an understanding of who I am today; my unique strengths and limitations. It has helped me set new goals; develop new opportunities; open up new doors and discover my often-innate talents. It has opened up a whole gamut of opportunities. They were just waiting in the eaves to be discovered.
It has helped me understand the importance of investing in my relationships; new, as well as old. The value of expanding connections and the importance of resilience in effectively navigating life’s inevitable challenges.
My love for learning has transcended my greatest expectations of who I am and who I could become. I have plans to explore the bigger picture, act courageously and engage in collective action. To seek out my true potential. And to help others do the same.
And what about you!
Please don’t let procrastination stop you in your tracks. Don’t let it hinder your success, for procrastination fails to recognise that time is passing you by. Let the next 12 months be a developing story of who you are and who you want to become. It’s your journey, not necessarily your destination. Find yourself a great journal, one you will love and over the next 12 months record your highs and lows; record your ambitions; your dreams; your successes and those experiences you’ve learned from the most. You might want to keep it safe, away from prying eyes, until you are ready to share your story.
Take time to develop your very own personal mantra, one that helps you define who you are, your values and beliefs; your life ethics, your motivation and what will keep you going when you really want to give up. It should be straightforward and easily brought to mind. It should say everything you want to say about who you are and who you hope to become.
What would your life look like if you were completely fulfilled? If your potential was fully achieved and to cap it all, your family and personal life was as great as your professional life. All of this doesn’t have to be a pipe dream. Does it? Don’t let regret devour you whole. Scan for new horizons, dig deep and make what you want to happen; happen. And above all else, make sure these opportunities are right for you.
