The main room in our home has big windows with views of the woods. As I sit looking out enjoying my morning coffee, I am fully aware of the changes before me. Not that long ago, I saw the hot summer sun casting its bright light on all the lush greenery. Now the greens of summer are shifting to the warm browns, reds, oranges and yellows of fall. I take great delight in the beauty beyond the windows. In addition, this is nature's reminder to me that change is gradual and ever-present.

This mirrors our experience. Sometimes we get impatient with making the changes we seek. Our quest can feel long, daunting and never-ending. Yet at the point when we stop to reflect, we realize that just like the cycle of the seasons, we too have changed and come to the next stage. There is meaning and hope in the journey and the discovery. Let this season inspire you with both patience and action.

"My naked little feet are perched happily upon my purple velvet stool." How does that email message I sent to my husband relate to organizing?

A while ago, I purchased a piece of fabric to cover a foot stool that I use regularly at my computer desk. Months passed until finally I enlisted my husband's help with the project. In less than thirty minutes, he fixed the stool and enhanced my work environment. While the time investment was small, the effect was huge: "Happy feet!" That's the signifcance of this story.

Very often when we think about the changes we want to make, they seem so large and looming that they paralyze us into inaction. When we're able to take even one very small step, the results can be so surprisingly positive that it encourages us to take another and continue moving ahead. Slow is fine. Life doesn't have to be a race. Find a pace that works for you.

With the arrival of fall, I encourage you to take your next small step towards the change you seek- be it fixing a stool, organizing a drawer, or simply sorting the pencil cup. Bring on the happy!

Sometimes it's an event more than a date that defines the beginning of a season. Our town has an annual "Summerfest" that begins with a parade leading into the village center. This festival marks the unofficial arrival of summer. Traffic is closed to moving vehicles so pedestrians can wander freely. The streets are filled with booths of things to eat, vendors selling trinkets, live music, families and friends mingling with one another, air castles, tag sales, flip flops and shorts.

As my husband and I walked into town, the mouthwatering BBQ scents wafted towards us. We met up with our friends and enjoyed some food and conversation in this happy, relaxed atmosphere.

After a few hours, we returned home to do some work. It was difficult getting started as I was still in the summery, playful mood that the fair inspired. Slowly I got to work. The "fun" break helped me to approach my list in a less frenzied way. It reminded me how important it is to enjoy yourself and take breaks.

As your gears shift into summer, find your right balance between work, fun and relaxation. When in doubt, take a break. You will return refreshed.

When you look around your home or office, what do you see? Does your environment support or distract you from working, relaxing and moving through your day? It's easy to have the days flow one into the next without taking the time to step back and look.

With the arrival of spring, this is a perfect time to regroup and look at things from a new perspective. For some, all that's needed are some minor adjustments to create a level of order that’s right for you. Some might want to make bigger changes.

If you're feeling stuck, think about breaking your plan into small, doable steps. The steps should be so small that they don't frighten you into inaction. For example, if you want to tackle that mongo pile of desk papers, a small step could be working on a one-inch stack. If you want to declutter your closet, a small step could be removing all empty hangers. Smaller steps equal greater likelihood for completion of your project or goal. Each small success encourages more action.