“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” // Ecclesiastes 3:1

Just as the spring turns into summer, and summer turns into fall, so we too have seasons in our life. Seasons of suffering, seasons of joy, honeymoon seasons, and seasons full of saying goodbye. Though we humans are built for change, we do not enjoy it. As C.S. Lewis writes in Mere Christianity, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can hope satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world” (136-137). Our desire for fixity, for eternity, is a sign that we are not made for this world of change. Yet, while we still live here, it is important to develop strategies on how best to make the transition from one season to the next.

Whatever new season you are entering, here are seven simple ways to help you embrace what comes next.

1. Deep Clean Your Space

Whether the transition in your life is moving across the world or simply going back to school, nothing eases the way quite like a deep clean. Take a day and tackle the big ones: The oven. The fridge. The junk drawer. Then, take a moment to switch out your toothbrush and wash your sheets. Times of transition include many factors that we cannot control—there are so many unknowns. Taking a day to deep clean helps you focus on what you can control and will help you put your best foot forward for the coming season.

2. Refresh Your Wardrobe

Like it or not, clothes are important. As embodied creatures, the way we dress affects the way we behave. Giving your closet a little refresh during times of transition can help prepare you for the next stage of life. Empty your closet of the pieces you no longer use, and shop for something new! Even if it is simply a new dress from the thrift store, or switching your closet over from summer to fall, dressing for the occasion will help you feel prepared and confident for what comes next.

3. Start a New Book

I love to read, and for me nothing marks a new transition like starting a book. This can be in any genre you choose: spiritual, classic, romance, comedy, etc. Choose something that you are excited about, a work you have always wanted to read. Or choose one of your favorites, a comfort book that has helped you through good times and bad. That way, even if there are trials in the coming season, you have an exciting tale to return to in your free moments.

4.  Write it Down

If you are reading this blog, journaling is not a new concept to you. Yet it can be one of the most helpful tools during the shifting of seasons. Write down everything that scares you about the new season. Write about everything that excites you. Take a moment to record the memories of the previous season—things that you can look back and smile about. But also reflect on the lessons you learned during that time, the things that you will want to remember, even years from now. Journaling can even be a practical planning exercise for the next season, by making a habit tracker or recording your goals and how to reach them.

5. Choose a Saint for the Season

It is scary to go alone . . . so take a friend with you! New seasons are an excellent time to make a new Saintly friend. Whether you pick a name out of a hat, use a random Saint generator, or simply flip to a page in a collection of Saint stories, finding your new friend doesn’t have to be complicated. When I went to Oxford, I chose Saint John Henry Newman as my patron because he lived and worked there. You could also take this as an opportunity to get to know a Saint that you’ve heard a lot about. However you choose, begin to ask for that Saint’s intercession, display their image, and remember that though this next season may bring the cross, you have heavenly aid to call upon. 

6. Change the Atmosphere

Did you know that the one sense most closely connected to memory is scent? Changing our olfactory atmosphere can help us transition from one season of life to the next. In other words: make yourself and your space smell good! I know some girls who change their perfume out several times throughout the year, using a “spring scent”, a “fall scent,” etc. Something a bit easier, but in the same spirit, is putting out fresh flowers or buying a new candle. Changing the way our surroundings smell is a small detail, but it can make all the difference in a new season.

7. Return to What is Constant

If you are a devoted follower of Blessed is She, going to Mass is not exactly a radical idea—we should all be doing it once a week! However, in periods of great change, it is important to remember the things that are constant in our lives. Even if you move to a different country, the liturgy, the rhythm of the Mass, remains the same. When there is chaos and confusion in our lives, remembering the constancy and devotion of God’s love is a comfort.

In ancient times, the Romans worshipped the god Janus, the god of the doorways. This was a double-faced god, with one face looking forward and one looking back, and is the reason for the name of the month “January.” As Christians, we believe in just one omnipotent God. But our God, too, is a God of beginnings and endings, the Alpha and Omega. Dear readers, keep your eyes on His face, turn to Him in times of tumult and change, and though there may be chaos, know that He is with you in the storm.