It's That Time Of The Year

By Chuck (Sharing Compasison)

There are several times a year that I get a feeling that things are “new and fresh.”  The first is obviously New Year’s Day. It is the start of a new year with new hopes and new beginnings.  Whatever the old year brought is over with and a whole new year is upon us with great anticipation. The next time is usually Spring. After being cooped up inside all winter the days begin to get warmer, the days get longer and everything begins to bloom. Again things are new and fresh. The final time is Labor Day…

…… As I was growing up school never started until the Tuesday after Labor Day. Labor Day was “officially” the last day of summer. A time for a cookout, a last game of kickball in the neighborhood, going to bed early (well earlier than we had all summer) and a brand new year of school. Even if you did not like school the first day was always special. Checking out who your teacher(s) were, what classes you had and what were you going to be doing. I remember from Kindergarten to Senior Year that first day was special. Schools now begin before Labor Day and those poor kids in Harford County actually started even sooner this year. However it is still ingrained in me that Labor Day marks the end of summer and the beginning of Fall. We still have a tradition in my family that Labor Day includes a cookout (hot dogs and hamburgers) and a traditional game of miniature golf in Churchville and then a trip to Arctic Circle for ice cream. Once that is finished off Summer is over in my mind and Fall has officially begun.

I realize that we still have several weeks of warm weather, the pool will be open for a few more weekends and summer really isn’t over but to me it is the Fall Season. It is my favorite season with the colors changing, the crisp temperatures and of course football. It is a time to reset priorities and get adjusted to a new schedule.  It is a time for me to get things reorganized and start setting goals. I guess all those years of school are still affecting my internal clock. I look at this time of year as a time to reevaluate my priorities and set goals to get me through the winter. Already I have set my priorities and reorganized some things….but what about you?

The title of this website is Making a Difference to One. I encourage you this season to take a look around you. Where can you make a difference. Could in be in a neighbor’s life? Could in be in perhaps a child’s life? What could you do to improve your own circumstances? Could you join a small group or volunteer somewhere? There are many opportunities out there and I would hope that as the season changes and new routines begin that you take a moment and make a change for yourself and make a difference to someone.