Writer’s Notes,
02/09/26
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.“
Hi! Happy September!
For as long as I can remember, I get especially excited when September comes. There’s a sweet transition in effect—summer is still lingering, yet there’s a nostalgic pull toward what’s to come next.
September in Greece is nothing like the ones I grew up with in Canada. Here, it’s still summer—al fresco moments, summer clothing, beach days, cold freddo espressos. Life keeps its summer rhythms well into the month. The real pivot is school starting mid-month that sets the tone to the days that follow. But the shift is there if you look for it—morning coffee on the balcony with a cardigan, the last of the figs, the grape vine leaves just beginning to turn, the light softening a little earlier each evening.
As of late
I spent most of August taking my friend’s advice and savoured the month in my own way—easing off trying to pack every day full, which let me enjoy our summer days even more. One of my most favourite things this year with Georgios was waking up early, having breakfast and heading straight to the beach for a morning swim. It became a highlight—the quietude of the mornings, burgers for lunch and then home by early afternoon, showered and in our comfy pjs for a quiet evening in. Simple and perfect.
There’s something about September that makes me want to reset. This past week I’ve been sorting through the kitchen—clearing a little space, reorganising, purging. It felt right somehow to start there with school starting at the end of next week. It’s something I’ll be doing in every room. It’s quite cathartic and a nice beginning point to return to our autumnal routines.
On my mind
I came across this quote a few weeks ago and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” At first it felt almost too simple—maybe that’s why it stuck. Then I realised how much it actually holds.
Sometimes we can easily become focused on the big things—where we’re going, what we’re building, what comes next—and yet, we forget that most of life happens somewhere much smaller. It’s in the daily practices that shape the way we live. It reminded me of the reasons we do the things we do, the why we each choose daily for ourselves.
It made me reflect on how much of life is built in the in-between—the way we begin our mornings, what we reach for when we have an hour to ourselves, the small daily commitments to make, and just how much more important they really are.
Maybe this is what I love about September. It arrives with a feeling of a new beginning, but not with the sense to start over. Just to reassess, adjust and pay attention. To notice what is working. What no longer fits. What we want more of. And most importantly, how we want our days to feel. Because the ordinary day are the life.
So here’s to September and to all the ordinary days that make up everything else.
More to come soon! x