Well, here we are, September already. How did that happen?
One minute we were enjoying long evenings, eating ice cream as though it were a basic human right, and pretending the barbecue was going to be used “all summer”.
Now the mornings are darker, the evenings are drawing in and somewhere nearby a school bag is being packed with the enthusiasm of a cat being taken to the vet.
And, if I’m honest, I’m feeling a little bit “meh” myself this week.
You know those days when your usual positivity has packed a suitcase, boarded a train and sent you a postcard saying, Wish you were here? Yep. One of those.
But I’m beginning to think that’s okay.
We’re not designed to bounce around like a human Tigger every minute of every day.
Sometimes we’re cheerful, sometimes we’re tired, sometimes we’re somewhere in between,  probably standing in the kitchen wondering why we walked in there in the first place.
So, rather than beating myself up about it, I’m trying to appreciate the small things.
A morning cup of tea. A bit of sunshine through the window. The sound of someone laughing. A friendly chat. Fresh air filling your lungs.
And, honestly, air deserves more recognition. It’s free, it’s everywhere and it keeps us alive. Nature really did pull off a bargain there.
September is also a good time to press the reset button. Put the phone down occasionally. Step away from the endless news and social media. Go for a walk. Have a cuppa with someone you love. Share a laugh. Have a proper cwtsh (and yes, editor, I’m keeping the Welsh spelling of cwtsh!).
Self-care doesn’t have to be fancy. Sometimes it’s simply giving yourself permission to have an off day without feeling guilty about it.
So, as summer slips quietly away, let’s be kind to ourselves. Take life one day at a time, find joy in the little things and remember: even the greyest Welsh sky eventually gives way to a patch of blue.
And if that doesn’t work?
There’s always chocolate.
Frankly, I’m beginning to think September was invented specifically to justify eating more of it.