For people of all ages, there’s something about September.
Even for those of us who have been working throughout the summer, there’s a wistful sense that the “real year” is about to begin. The summer days dwindle down to a precious few, each day gets just a little bit shorter, the cicadas emerge and sing their mating song, the trees are beginning to turn.
For children and parents, it’s back-to-school shopping. For high school seniors it’s time to apply to colleges and think about leaving the nest. For college seniors, it’s time to get serious about their career path (or more schooling). For teachers and school staff, it’s time to look down the long corridor of the school year. For many of us, it’s the end of half-days on Friday – perhaps you’ve used up all your vacation for the year, and it’s a long, long time until Christmas vacation!
The end of summer and the advent of the fall season may bring:
- The “end-of-summer blues” (e.g., “my tan is fading!,” no more wearing white);
- For some, the anticipation of Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.);
- The need to process some significant experiences we’ve had over the summer, in the realms of relationships, work or self-care;
- The desire to do a “two-thirds of the calendar year check-in” with ourselves;
- Thoughts and memories of special people or events (for those of us in the New York City area, this might include recollections of September 11th);
- Regret, or mild panic, about all the home projects, day- or weekend-trips, and catch-up stuff that went undone;
- The unread books you meant to get to;
- Anticipation of the busyness of the fall season – Halloween candy goes on display immediately after Labor Day nowadays, and before you know it you’re gearing up for the holidays.
3 months or 3,000 miles?
The day I bought my first new car, a 2003 Honda Civic, I swore an oath to the Car Gods: “I promise, Car Gods, that I will maintain this car according to the factory specifications found in the manual inside the glovebox. Amen.” And thus it has been, and the car currently has over 110,000 miles on it. First and foremost, I have changed the oil religiously every 3 months or 3,000 miles.
What’s good for my Honda Civic might be good for you, too! Change is in the air! Now might be the perfect time to schedule an appointment for September to reflect on your summer, and to help you hit the ground running for the new season.
Please write or call if the sticker on your windshield says it’s been 3 months or 3,000 miles since you last changed your oil. See you in September?
