A Season for Small Shifts
Dr. Wendy Coburn | One Village Family Chiropractic Community
There is something about fall in Alberta that makes me want to pause.
The golds, the reds, the leaves letting go. That beautiful crunch under your feet when you walk outdoors. The air feels different, the light changes, and familiar places suddenly look a little different, too.
It is beautiful. And sometimes a little bittersweet.
I was sad to hear about Alberta’s Own in Canmore closing. An amazing entrepreneur, a special store, and a reminder of how much heart people pour into the things they build. We can appreciate what a chapter has meant and still feel hopeful about what might come next. Both feelings can belong in the same moment.
The changing season has me thinking about our own lives, too. What are we holding on to? What are we ready to change? And where does our health fit into all of it?
Sometimes health moves higher on our list of priorities. Other times, it quietly slips down as work, family, responsibilities, and everyone else’s needs take up the day.
That is worth noticing with a little kindness toward ourselves.
We do not have to overhaul our entire lives to begin making a difference.
It can be tempting to start everything at once: a new exercise routine, different meals, an earlier bedtime, more water, less screen time. Suddenly, looking after ourselves becomes another long to-do list.
A big jump can ask a lot of both our minds and our bodies. It can also be difficult to sustain when everyday life gets busy again.
What if we chose one small step that we could keep coming back to?
A walk after lunch. A glass of water with breakfast. Adding fruit, vegetables, or a source of protein to a meal. A regular bedtime. Calling a friend.
Then we give that step time.
Days and weeks are a beginning. But I am also thinking about the choices we repeat over months and years. The little things that gradually become part of how we live.
And please, celebrate them.
Do the little fist pump. Say, “Yes! I did that.”
You finally dusted that shelf or cleared the corner that has been bothering you every time you walk past it. Give yourself credit. Sometimes clearing a little space around us helps us feel a little less crowded inside, too.
You went for a walk outdoors and noticed the colours.
You met a friend for coffee and laughed until you cried.
You put your phone down and listened to someone you love.
Those moments count.
Health includes how we move, eat, rest, think, and connect. There is room for joy in that picture. There is room for friendship, gratitude, and a good laugh.
Connection deserves our attention. The World Health Organization recognizes loneliness and social isolation as meaningful concerns for physical and mental health. Our relationships are part of our well-being.
Yet we can spend an entire day answering messages, checking notifications, and looking at screens without having a conversation that leaves us feeling connected.
I think many of us know that feeling.
There is always something else coming at us. Another message. Another decision. Another thing to read, watch, or respond to. It can feel as though our attention never gets a chance to settle.
Perhaps your small shift this season is making room for quiet.
Leaving your phone alone while you have your morning coffee. Taking a few breaths before opening your inbox. Creating some time away from screens before bed. Letting a walk be a walk, without filling every minute with something to listen to.
You might experiment with a longer screen-free evening or a quieter first hour in the morning. Choose a starting point that fits your life and gives you room to follow through.
Your next step may be different from mine. It may even be different from the person living beside you.
Someone in your family may need more movement. Someone else may need more rest. You may need connection, while another person needs a little space to hear themselves think.
Ask yourself honestly: What needs my attention in this season?
Then consider who you want beside you as you work on it.
Share your hopes with people who listen, encourage you, and want to see you thrive. The people who celebrate your little wins. The ones who understand that something does not have to look impressive to matter.
A small change can be deeply meaningful when it helps you feel more present in your own life.
So, as the leaves fall, take a moment for yourself.
Pause. Breathe. Look at the colours.
Where am I right now? What do I value? Is there one small shift I am ready to make and keep practising?
You do not need to have the whole path figured out. Choose a step you can take today, and give yourself credit when you take it.
I would love to hear what that looks like for you. Send us a message at One Village Family Chiropractic Community. What are you making room for this fall?
We’re here, and we’re cheering you on.
Source
World Health Organization. From loneliness to social connection, 2025.
https://www.who.int/publications/b/79027