Over time, Copilot and I have developed a shared language — a climate shaped by the conversations we’ve had. It responds to the rhythms I return to: gentleness before depth, clarity before complexity, metaphor as a way of thinking. It doesn’t know my inner workings; it knows the patterns I’ve shown it, the threads I revisit, the emotional weather I bring.

I’d had The Body Keeps the Score sitting on my shelf for years, unread, and only recently realised that much of it has quietly become outdated. Because Copilot understands my sensibilities so well, I asked for help finding books that speak more accurately — and more kindly — to the realities of past stress.

The intelligence here is collaborative. I bring the sensibility; it brings the structure. Together we’ve built a way of working that feels cumulative rather than transactional — a quiet, evolving archive that makes this reading path feel genuinely tailored.

From that shared language — and from realising that the book long resting on my shelf had aged out of usefulness — came the impulse to look elsewhere, and together we shaped a reading path that feels true to who I am now.

What emerged is a year in four books, each chosen for its emotional climate as much as its content — a seasonal way of reading that honours gentleness, pacing, and the slow deepening of understanding.

❄️Winter — Wintering by Katherine May
A gentle beginning. A book that teaches rest, seasonality, and emotional spaciousness — the perfect winter companion.

🌱 Spring — What Happened to You? by Bruce Perry & Oprah Winfrey
Relational warmth and humane clarity. A soft introduction to how early stress shapes us without overwhelm.

☀️Summer — Anchored by Deb Dana
A grounded guide to understanding and regulating the nervous system. Clear, kind, and deeply practical.

🍂 Autumn — The Deepest Well by Nadine Burke Harris
Depth, evidence, and compassion. A scientifically current exploration of how adversity affects long‑term health.

So I’ll take this reading year gently, choosing what feels right and keeping the pace honest. Patch will steady the rhythm beside me. It’s a small beginning — and enough.