This week in California, kids returned to school. Personally, I think it’s too early this far before Labor Day, but that’s another matter. The truth is, I always get a little sad at this time of year, even as a grown adult in midlife. Why? Because long, free, easy summer days with not a care in the world are so, so precious; even though kids don’t understand just how precious they are in the grand scheme of life, no one appreciates summer better than kids do.
Even still, there’s something magical about returning to school that most kids love, even if they are sad to see summer end. As a former teacher, I recall my students getting excited about their new class and teachers, buying new clothes, and picking out new school supplies—the ultimate gesture of manifesting new learnings and new possibilities. In preparing for the coming year, they set their sights on the seasonal transition to fall and to adventures and experiences as yet unknown. So brave, optimistic, and openminded!
So, as your summer starts to settle down, take some lessons from the kids: get ready to go back to school. Consider your own seasonal transition. Ask yourself what you need to prepare yourself for this new chapter in your life. Daydream the possibilities for adventure and new experiences, and write them down in a new notebook. Imagine who some of your new teachers and friends will be—literally or figuratively—and set some goals for your own learning.
Excitement and possibility don’t need to end in childhood. When we embrace them in midlife, we stand to shatter dull routines and outdated thinking, making way for freshness and delight. So as your summer quickly transitions into fall, create your own back-to-school season and start living your next chapter with the sense of joy, adventure and choice you deserve. Taking classes is not required.
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