September 1, 2025
Every season has its rituals, and so does this blog. Each day I share a Thought of the Day and a Question of the Day, not just as quick prompts, but as little invitations to think, reflect, and maybe even laugh. Today’s pairing is about that bittersweet shift between summer’s freedom and September’s routines.
Thought of the Day
“September tries its best to have us forget summer.” — Bernard Williams
Summer feels like the season that never wants to end, even when we know it has to. By the time September rolls around, the sun still lingers a little too long, kids are still sticky from popsicles, and my lawn still demands its weekly mowing. And yet, there’s something about September that insists we move on. The pool starts feeling colder. The cicadas get louder. The mornings suddenly have a crisp edge.
Bernard Williams was right: September does try to make us forget. But forgetting isn’t always bad. It’s how we make space for new things. A September morning whispering that fall is on its way is just as beautiful as a July evening holding onto its last rays. And maybe that’s the trick—summer teaches us to enjoy what’s fleeting, while September teaches us to let go without bitterness.
If you’ve been following along, you know I’ve written before about how seasons carry lessons like when I asked what smell you most associate with spring and do you prefer the dusk or dawn?. Today’s thought fits right in that rhythm—life always nudging us forward, even when we want to linger.
Question of the Day
What’s the hardest part about saying goodbye to summer?
For me, it isn’t hard at all. In fact, I welcome it. The days stretch on way past my kids’ bedtime, which means they’re wide awake when they should be winding down. Add in the heat, the humidity, and the general sense of chaos that summer seems to thrive on, and I’m ready to move on.
What I really love is the arrival of September. The air turns crisp and cool, but not cold. Schedules click back into place. The daylight lasts just long enough without overstaying its welcome. Autumn feels like the perfect reset button, a season that invites me to start fresh in ways summer never does.
So what about you? Maybe you’ll miss the long days, the late-night ice cream runs, or the freedom of not setting an alarm. Or maybe, like me, you’re secretly counting down to that first cool breeze.
Join the Conversation
So what about you? What’s the hardest part about saying goodbye to summer? Drop your answer in the comments—I’d love to hear it. And if you want more daily prompts like this, along with reflections that go a little deeper, sign up for the free daily email here.