It happens every year. The glorious freedom of summer abruptly ends with Labor Day, and everything seems to rev up overnight. Before long I begin to experience a sense of being overwhelmed with all the activities that are getting underway. I call this my fall funk. This year I decided to take a closer look at the phenomenon so that I might better understand it.

It all revolves around activities. They begin with a bang, my calendar fills, and before long there is no empty time. Most are good activities and my loyalty kicks in, and I soon realize that I am finding it hard to say no. So, how do I choose among good activities, and at the same time learn that I can’t please everyone? Of course I want to do my part, but there seems to be an endless parade of things to do. Soon guilt reigns supreme as I struggle to learn when and where to say ‘no.’ It is then that I notice how real the conflict is between exterior and interior pulls. The exterior pulls me into meetings, committees, activities, meals, and just plain fun. The interior pulls me toward reflection and quiet time often spent doing nothing.

For me there is a simple but very great need for quiet reflection. It is only in quiet time that I can hear and keep track of my internal thread. I need to be in touch with this inner thread in order to reflect upon what truly matters and gives direction to my life journey. It also seems to be the only way that I authentically connect to a wider reality. Reflection gives a sense of direction as to what I really want do in the external world. Some things that clamor loudest seem to hold the least meaning. Perhaps the quiet time for reflection is the most important gift I can give myself. I am beginning to suspect that it is the only way to avoid the fall funk.