I am having a hard time believing that the summer is quickly coming to a close. Yes, I know many of my friends and family in other parts of the country have already started going back to school. We still have a few more precious weeks here and go back the day after Labor Day. We are one of the last ones I know to get out of school in mid to late June and the last to go back the day after Labor Day.
I love having the markings of the four seasons. It is one of the reasons I moved back to the northeast. Each season is unique, and I love that. Fall is a time for a fresh start. If you have children, the start of the school year brings new routines and schedules, with different sports, new teachers, topics, and learnings. I like having two “new Years” each year. It gives us a moment to pause and re-think about what we want and what we would like to change or make different. It is a new beginning – AND we are also approaching the end of the calendar year.
What were some of your intentions and goals for 2023? (Did you create a 23 for 2023 like Gretchen Rubin does?) Now is a good time to remind yourself of these things before the year is over.
What were some of the lessons from the last school year or earlier this year that you would like to remember and work on?
It is not too late to focus on these again.
I am sad that the summer is over yet I am also looking forward to a more consistent schedule for myself and my family. During the summer it felt like every week was different and I was often scrambling to remember what was happening that week or that day. I had to fit things in and take care of my boys and my work, in not always the best way.
I follow Laura Vanderkam and each season she writes a list of things she wants to do. Some are the same every year and some are new. I like reading hers and I love making lists – so here is my random list of things I am considering or desiring for the fall and the start of the school year:
- I hope to write more. Yes, I know I have said this before. Let’s see if I can make it happen.
- I have been working on a new project that I am excited to share with people this fall. 😊More to come on this.
- I am hoping to take myself on dates or designated “me time” each week.
- I want to learn about my Enneagram number. (If you want to join me, please let me know.)
- I want to continue to spend about 30 minutes per day organizing a small area of the house. I want to get rid of stuff we don’t need or use. I want to feel better about my home.
- I had hoped to go on a silent retreat for the first time with a friend. Unfortunately, I don’t think that is going to happen. ☹
- I hope to go away for a night or two with my husband without kids.
- I want to continue to try one new recipe a week.
- I want to continue my “Connecting” theme for 2023 by spending quality time with at least one person outside my immediate family each week.
- I would love to go for at least a couple of hikes
- I hope to come up with a spending plan for 2024. How much do we want to spend on vacations and special events? I have just started tracking our spending with Monarch and am interested to see what we learn from this. I feel like we have been spending a lot on concerts, trips, and sporting events. I know some of it is because we were not able to do it for so long due to COVID but I would love to have a plan instead of it feeling so uncontrolled.
- I also desire going away for a night or two with friends.
This list feels like a lot at the moment but I am putting it out there because they are all things I want to do.
What are you hoping for and planning for this school year? Even if you don’t have kids, do you feel like fall is a good time to make changes and create new habits or routines?
I would love to hear what you are looking forward to or any changes you are hoping to make.
Good luck to all with the new school year!
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