It doesn’t matter how old I get September still feels like the beginning of a New Year. I think it’s because when you grow up the kids still have to go back to school. If you don’t have kids then you still have lots of meetings and regular things that get cancelled in the summer, to make time for the holidays, sunshine and a little chillaxin’! So at this time of year it can feel a little like gearing up for routines and ‘busy’-ness. If you want to cope with the transition realistically then focus on the positives of what you get out of routine and structure. (ie. seeing people regularly, making money, security, sense of purpose and place in the world, learning new skills etc etc) Predict how things will be different and what you will need to cope. If you are someone who thrives on summertime schedules and a lack of structure, then make sure you build ‘do whatever you want’ time into the schedule. We all need to be productive and we all need to relax and have ‘me’ time. It’s just that the different seasons tend to emphasize these needs differently. Thinking about and planning for transitions helps them to go more smoothly. Besides, no matter how old we are, we are all still in this classroom called life and there is always something more to learn. Empowerment comes from being able to think and feel at the same time. Studies show that the more you learn, the greater your chance of success and high self-esteem. So on that note, I hope you all have a wonderful Labour Day weekend and a Happy ‘Back to School’New Year!!!