Seasonal Rotations
As fall is in full foliage and the weather begins to get chillier by the day, I have completed one of my seasonal rotations: swapping out my current wardrobe for one that meets my upcoming seasonal needs. I undertake this rotation twice a year–once in the fall and once in the spring–to ensure that my clothing and shoes are appropriate for the weather at hand (and, because my closet can’t contain all that I enjoy wearing throughout the year!). Initially, it can feel daunting and even laborious, but once I get started, the transition of my closet brings about a shift in my mood and mindset as well.
None of the items in my rotation are newly purchased. However, by swapping things out, I get the feeling of freshness and newness which uplifts my spirit, feeds my creativity, and provides a sense of accomplishment and preparedness. I’ve spent some time, but no money. I have reorganized and cleaned in the process. I have compared my upcoming schedule to the items I have, giving me clues to what may be missing, overlooked or overstocked (there is generally a bit of purging that takes place along the way). I felt so good after completing this regular rotation a few weeks ago that it made me think: what other rotations are part of each year that have a similar impact?
Each September, I begin to swap out some decorations around the house for those that are hints of fall: ceramic and metal pumpkins, gourds, leafy wreaths, and more. I rarely purchase anything new–instead, I “shop” in the storage totes in the basement to find what appeals to me from what I have accumulated over the years. I love reconnecting with these “old friends” and displaying them to spark happy memories and to make new ones. This continues at Christmas, with a different rotation of items, and then in January, when I rotate items once again to store the holiday art and trinkets and replace them with the standards that were boxed up for the past few months. This last step instills some calm and normalcy after a period of increased activity and celebration.
Each April or May, my husband and I sweep out the garage and bring the bikes down from where they have hung in the rafters for the winter. We bring the inflatable kayaks out from the basement and prepare them for use on the nearby river. We ensure our folding chairs are accessible for lawn concerts and fire pit gatherings. This rotation helps usher in spring and summer (as does my spring/summer wardrobe rotation, also done during these months…) and gets us excited about the ability to spend more time outside and moving our bodies in different ways.
Several times a year, I rearrange cookbooks and recipes to ensure I have those that align with the available seasonal ingredients within easy reach. We also tend toward different types of food during different seasons: fresh veggies and proteins on the grill in warmer months and soups, stews and casseroles when it’s colder outside. While I generally love to cook, these rotation exercises allow me easy access to favorite recipes, thus making shopping and cooking that much more efficient and enjoyable.
As I reflect on these few rotations, something else comes to mind. When I was a teenager, I frequently rearranged my room. I relocated the bed, the dresser, the desk and chair. I moved nicknacks from place to place, swapped out one blanket for another, and sometimes moved around posters on the wall. It helped ground and uplift me–and my room became clean (if only for a few days…) which was an added bonus to my relationship with my parents. This furniture and art rearranging for no specific reason and connected to no particular time period brought me a sense of control and joy and is something I plan to revisit as an early spring rotation, when the days are still shorter, darker and colder, when mindless routines can set in, and when joy can be harder to find.
What’s great about rotations–seasonal or otherwise–is that they provide physical changes that also encourage or enable shifts of the mind and soul. At this point, these rotations are just part of my life and don’t take much in the way of scheduling or reminders–my intuition and the general season signal that it’s time. By taking a bit of time and energy to swap things around, I gain different access and perspective, experiencing myself and the world around me in both renewed and familiar ways. Give intentional swaps and rotations a try and see what you discover about yourself and your surroundings.
