This is a re-share of an article that was originally published in August 2013
I walked into Target and was welcomed by a barrage of Back To School ‘stuff’. Everything from freshly pressed notebooks, bright cheerful backpacks, colorful lunch boxes, crayons, pencils, pens, clothes, shoes. You get the idea.
And then it hit me. I’ve spent 27 years going ‘back to school’.
I went through grade school, middle school, and high school. I immediately left for four amazing college years, and then entered into ten years working for the public school system where I graduated. That’s 27 years spent enjoying this time of year and the fresh start it offers.
My brain has been hard wired to work in terms of school years. My internal calendar does not reset in January, it resets in September.
I love the fresh start the school year brings — reconnecting with old friends, meeting new ones, opening a fresh composition book, breaking in the brand new box of Crayola 64, and reorganizing a brand new desk of books and supplies.
‘Back to school’ has been a HUGE part of my identity and I would be lying if I said sometimes I miss going back with all the teachers and students.
But in the years since I’ve left teaching, I’ve rediscovered who I am outside of ‘school’.
This summer I’ve been cooking yummy healthy meals (mostly vegetarian), doing art projects I loved as a kid, reading books that have been on my list for ages, and taking LOTS of photos too.
This process is teaching me that we all have an opportunity to explore who we truly are each and every day.
We certainly don’t need a special time frame to push a reset button in our self-discovery process, and since the start of a new school year is so important to me, this fall I’ve vowed not to shut out that part of me that wants to reset in September.
I’m going to embrace the beginning of a new school year and use it as an opportunity to kick off this season with a fresh start.
Want to join me?
I’ll be picking up my own brand new pack of Crayola 64’s tomorrow and writing out the 5 things I want to learn ‘this school year’.
Here’s what’s been on my list:
- Learn to sew (at the beautiful Finch Sewing Studio)
- Learn how to cook tofu so it doesn’t taste horrific (any vegetarians out there who can point me in the right direction – I’d love you for it!)
- Learn how to develop my own film (I’ve never been in a dark room…)
- Learn 5 new bands to add to my iTunes library (I know EpicDanger’s Tuesday Tunes will help me with this!)
- Learn some tips from an interior decorator so I can design an amazing new home office that makes me feel inspired.
What’s going on your ‘learning list’ this school year?
If your fresh start includes learning how to take better photos with your camera (DSLR or phone!), check out the Momtography® Camera Confidence class here >> https://mom.beyoungcreative.com/confidence/
