New Blooms, New Season

As we just concluded this year's end of summer and fall is slowly trying to make its presence known, it made me think about how different our end of summers are now compared to when I was a child. I vividly recall that end of summer when I was young, meant the dreaded return to school after the Labor Day holiday and with that, came shopping with my Mom for the new clothes that were needed as we began the schoolyear. That also came with its own anxiety, as that meant that we would be having a new teacher and new kids in the classroom that were not necessarily the ones that were our close friends. For me, it was that whole thing of trying to fit in with this new group of kids and having that feeling that perhaps I wasn't fitting in, while others acclimated very well in complete contrast. The one positive thing that I also remember about September was that while our favorite television shows were on hiatus in the summer months, they were set to return as the beginning of fall was approaching. With that, I also had this separate joy in knowing that a new season of cartoons would be coming and they would have previews of what to expect. All of that was very exciting for me, as I grew up a latch key kid, as my parents worked long hours and although I spent most of the time with my grandmother, she worked nights and I would have to stay by myself watching television as I waited for her to get home.  Fast forward to today and again things are so much more different for the young kids around me. I noticed that schools began their new terms some in mid August and there is no new slate of television shows waiting for anyone, as most people are utilizing their streaming devices and can download pretty much anything they want at any given time.  In a way, I feel a bit sad for the children of today as their world is much more calculated and less spontaneous than mine was during the same time period.  I have nephews that play football in school and their end of their summer was uprooted by the return to practice football games and getting back in shape for their new season.  The other thing that I do appreciate about the end of summer, is the return to NFL football and although I enjoy watching many sports, I must say the football is my favorite along with this changing time of year. As we quickly move forward through the remainder of this month, I hope many of you reflect on how your new season ahead will transpire as we begin this time period. It is another perfect opportunity to think about what other changes can be in store for you as part of the new seasonality. Like the changing seasons that our plants, trees and flowers outside await in aniticipation for with new blossoms coming, we too can seek what other things we may want to have bloom in our lives as we continue to await the changing colors of the leaves outside. I too look forward to a chilly morning outside that is crisp, as the cool morning air greets us when we step outdoors. With that, perhaps we too can change our proverbial color, into a new hue that we have been waiting to try out as a result. Cheers to another fruitful summer gone by and I will raise a glass to the season that awaits ahead with a big smile and wonder what else will be in store for me in this new phase that I will welcome with open arms.