Late August, given heavy rain and sun

For a full week, the blackberries would ripen.

At first, just one, a glossy purple clot

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Among others, red, green, hard as a knot.

­– Seamus Heaney

It’s not difficult to relate to the opening lines of that beautiful poem ‘Blackberry Picking’ by Seamus Heaney. For most of us, it evokes nostalgic memories of picking berries in the brambles along country lanes in our childhood in late summer and into early September as the school doors reopened.

The blackberry harvest, or the resulting comforting apple and blackberry crumble, was a sure sign that autumn was on the way and a chance to ‘reset’ your routine for September or embark on a fresh start of sorts to get ready for the darker, colder months ahead after, hopefully, a nice summer break.

The definition of ‘reset’, a word I now associate for good or for ill with sports managers, is to begin again, usually after a period of rest or relaxation. And September, rather than January, I believe, is a good time to do this, as school and college routines kick in and change is really in the air.

It is also a great season to reconnect with your local community, get out, get involved and stay active. It’s something that will help mentally and physically during the darker winter months when the nights are long and there’s nothing on the telly! So, with that in mind, it’s an ideal time to set ourselves a goal or two or make a priority list for autumn, however small they might be.

The definition of ‘reset’, a word I now associate for good or for ill with sports managers, is to begin again, usually after a period of rest or relaxation

It’s also a time to form new habits, whether that is banishing the phone from the bedroom an hour before sleep, doing some morning chair yoga or meditation, or even something simple, like a meal plan or batch cooking to make use of more of our great local farm produce and cut down on processed food and packaging waste. Now is also your cue to go that extra yard to join the walking, cycling club or local couch to 5k programme. A lot of the country’s drama groups really kick into gear in the autumn/winter season, and they are always looking for help, on and off stage, as are the many craft groups and book clubs. Finding a new tribe to check in with could be the key to ensuring the transition to winter is that bit easier this year.

Just as nature and life on the farm starts to slow down (for some), embracing the natural rhythm of autumn to make space for the simple things in life is the true benefit of the season change. That could be a warming coffee with friends and family, a crisp walk amid the falling leaves or leafing through a book beside a roaring fire. The Nordic countries are all about the concept of 'Hygge’, taking time away from the daily rush to evoke a contented, cosy mood full of comfort and conviviality.

So, I’m full of good intentions to make September the month to reset, reflect and reconnect on all fronts before the C…. word, Christmas, comes rushing around the corner! Let’s hope I follow through and autumn is a positive time for us all. I’m thinking here particularly of all of the school and college students embracing big life changes.