Twelve Seasons and a Shifting Body
Living in New York has taught me that we don’t really have four seasons—we have twelve. There’s Winter, Fool’s Spring, Second Winter, Spring of Deception, Third Winter, The Pollening, Actual Spring (hello, finally), Summer, Hell’s Front Porch, False Fall, Second Summer, and Actual Fall.
It sounds dramatic, but if you’ve lived here, you know it’s true. And as funny as it can be, the constant shifting makes everyday decisions—like what to wear or eat—surprisingly hard. One day I’m in a sweater, the next I’m sweating in a T-shirt. My body can’t keep up. Some mornings I wake up craving something warm and grounding, and by lunch I’m suddenly craving fruit and ice water like it’s July.
These transitions don’t just mess with the weather app—they mess with how I feel in my body. I find myself questioning: Am I bloated? Am I tired? Am I uncomfortable in my clothes, or just reacting to the climate whiplash? I start wondering if something is wrong with me, when really, the environment is shifting faster than I can regulate.
This is where intuitive eating has been a grounding practice for me. Instead of sticking to rigid food rules or trying to “correct” my body when it feels off, I try to tune in more closely: What is my body actually asking for today? What feels comforting, nourishing, or satisfying—not just physically, but emotionally?
Some days, that means soup in April. Other days, it means a salad in January. Some days, it’s pajamas at 5pm and other days it’s an evening walk just to move some of the confusion out of my body.
Transitions—whether seasonal or internal—are disorienting. And I tell myself that it’s okay if you don’t feel totally “yourself” in your body all the time. We aren’t meant to be static. Just like the weather, we shift. We bloat, we sweat, we crave rest, we crave movement. It’s not a failure—it’s nature doing its thing.
So if you’re feeling a little off, a little puffy, a little unsure of what to wear or eat or how to feel: you’re not alone. Give yourself the grace to be in transition. Your body is listening, even when it feels confused. Trust it. Feed it. Be gentle with it. Let it catch up with the season—whatever that season happens to be today.
As a licensed Clinical Behavioral Therapist and Intuitive Eating Counselor, I’m here to help you integrate these practices into your life. If you're interested in working with me, feel free to reach out at rachel@livehealthynyc.com