Welcoming Autumn: a Season of Slowing and Growing

If you know me well, you know that I love fall. There’s something special about the arrival of autumn that I look forward to every year. Even though I enjoy the newness of Spring and the relaxed Summer schedule (and we don’t need to even mention winter), the crisp air, the vibrant colours of the leaves, sweater weather and the soft golden sunlight filtering through the trees all feels like a gentle nudge, a reminder that change is not only inevitable but also beautiful. My drive to work allows me to watch the leaves slowly turn from green to shades of orange, red, and yellow and I can’t help but reflect on the power of this season to spark growth, both personally and professionally.

I’ve always found that autumn carries with it a unique energy. Summer, with its long, hot days, always feels like a time of relaxation and recharging. It’s a season where I can be carefree, taking time to unwind and step away from the everyday grind. But when autumn arrives, there’s a shift. It’s not just the temperature dropping or the sun setting earlier—it’s like the world is gently whispering, “It’s time to get back to work. It’s time to refocus.”

For me, autumn has always been a time of personal renewal. The changing landscape serves as a visual reminder that growth doesn’t always come in a linear fashion. Just as the trees shed their leaves to make way for new ones, autumn is a time for evaluating areas of my life where I can let go and make room for something fresh and meaningful. It might be a habit that no longer serves me, a project that’s run its course, or even a mindset that I need to release. I used to fear the process of letting go, believing that to let go was to admit failure. But the reality is, we all need to let things go, not because we have failed, but because that thing – that relationship, that project, that way of thinking – has run its course and is now complete. When it has reached its conclusion, it is time to clear it away to make room for the new or the evolution of something not yet finished.

There’s a certain clarity that comes with autumn. The distractions of summer fade, and I start to turn inward, asking myself important questions: What do I want to accomplish before the year ends? What goals have I been putting off? Where am I growing, and where do I need to plant new seeds for future development? These are the kinds of reflections I embrace when the leaves begin to fall and the gardens give up their harvest, as I see them as symbols of release and renewal.

Autumn also reminds me of the importance of balance. Just like nature prepares for the quieter, colder months ahead, I too am beginning to think about how I can create space for both productivity and rest in my life. It’s tempting to dive headfirst into all the projects I want to complete by year’s end, but I’ve learned that balance is key. It’s about making progress without burning out—taking the time to pause and reflect, while also pushing forward with intention.

Professionally, I’ve always seen autumn as a season of opportunity. Whether it’s starting a new initiative at work, revisiting goals I set earlier in the year, or simply taking the time to improve my skills, fall has a way of re-energizing me in my career. Maybe it’s the cooler weather that helps me focus or the sense that the clock is ticking on the current year, but either way, I often find that I am more motivated and ready to take on challenges.

As a Principal, autumn is a time of deep reflection and action for me. The beginning of the school year brings with it so many opportunities for growth—not just for students but for myself as well. This fall in particular I see the opportunity for change and growth as I enter a new school which is completely different from any I have worked in before. Supporting students at the beginning of their education journey, rather than the end, gives me a new perspective and a new purpose. Each fall, I’m reminded that leadership is an ongoing journey. I look at the fresh faces in my school, eager and curious, some of them experiencing school for the very first time, and it pushes me to be the best version of myself as a leader. It’s a chance for me to reflect on how I can create an environment where both students and staff can thrive.

There’s also something about autumn that invites collaboration. As the new school year begins, I spend a lot of time in conversation with teachers, parents, and other school leaders, discussing how we can create meaningful learning experiences. We brainstorm, we plan, and we grow together as a team. This sense of collective growth—working together toward a shared goal—feels particularly aligned with the spirit of fall. It’s a season that encourages us to connect, to lean on each other, and to grow through collaboration.

But it’s not just about professional growth—autumn is also a time for personal development. I often think about the ways in which I want to grow outside of work. Do I want to recommit to writing and posting every day? Do I want to commit more time to creating pottery? Maybe I want to commit to more reading or traveling or simply taking more time for self-care. Whatever I want to commit to doing, I find that fall is a great time to implement new routines. The crisp mornings and earlier sunsets make me want to slow down, reflect, and focus on areas of my life that might have been neglected during the busyness of summer.

In fact, autumn is my favorite time to set new personal goals. While many people view New Year’s as the time for resolutions, for me, fall is the perfect season to refocus and set intentions for the remainder of the year. By the time winter rolls around, I like to feel as though I’ve made meaningful progress toward both personal and professional growth. The colder months ahead give me time to slow down and nurture what I’ve started in the fall, allowing my ideas and goals to take root and bloom in the spring.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that growth isn’t always about doing more—it’s also about doing things differently. Sometimes, the best growth comes from simplifying. This autumn, I’m focusing on finding simplicity in my routines, my thoughts, and even my ambitions. Instead of adding more to my plate, I’m learning to embrace the power of doing less, but with more intention and focus. Instead of re-painting every room in my house, I may focus on one intentional room renovation (like my kitchen). It’s not always easy, especially when the world seems to celebrate busyness, but I’ve found that slowing down and being more intentional often leads to greater progress in the long run.

This fall, I’m also reminding myself to be patient. Just like the trees don’t rush the process of shedding their leaves, I don’t need to rush my growth. Change, whether personal or professional, takes time. There’s a natural rhythm to life, and autumn reminds me to trust that rhythm. The trees don’t worry about when their leaves will fall—they simply let it happen when the time is right. I’m learning to do the same: to trust that my growth, both in my career and in my personal life, will unfold as it’s meant to, in its own time.

Autumn, for me, is a time to embrace change, to let go of what no longer serves me, and to lean into the growth that’s waiting to unfold. It’s a season of reflection, yes, but also of action. It’s about finding balance, setting intentions, and trusting the process.

So, as I sit here watching the leaves change colour and fall, and the children return to school, I remember that growth doesn’t happen all at once. It’s gradual, like the changing colours of the trees, and it’s beautiful in its own way. Autumn is a season that invites us to slow down, reflect, and refocus. It’s a time to embrace change, both personally and professionally, and to see it not as something to fear but as something to celebrate.

And I, for one, am ready to embrace it. Here’s to autumn—a season of slowing down, growing into more of ourselves, letth, change, and endless possibilities.