Back to School, Back to Reality

There are certain times of year that make us stop in our tracks and reflect on the notion of time. For me, back-to-school season does it more than anything else.

More than New Year’s Eve. More than birthdays. More than anniversaries.

September has a way of holding up a mirror and saying, “Look — life is moving.”

You see it in the photos:

• The first day of preschool, a backpack that could swallow them whole.
• The first day of elementary school, one shoe untied and a smile missing a front tooth.
• The first day of high school, when they seem both ready and not ready for the world.
• The first day of college, when you stand in a dorm room doorway, searching for the right words to say, wondering how those years went by in a blink.

The grades tick by like mile markers on a road you can’t slow down.

And September reminds us it’s not just the kids who change. With the new season, the air turns crisp. The evenings come sooner. The leaves start to paint the ground in color. The seasons whisper the truth: nothing stays the same forever.

That whisper is an invitation — a reminder that Minutes Matter.
To notice the way your child’s voice changes year to year.
To watch the light in their eyes as they discover new passions, new friends, and new opportunities.
To hug a little longer, laugh a little louder, and say “yes” a little more often.

Because life doesn’t pause so we can catch up.
Because the “firsts” don’t repeat themselves.
Because “one day” is never promised.

This is the time to Live Today… Don’t Wait for Tomorrow.

Go for that walk on the first crisp evening.
Call that friend you’ve been “meaning to” reach out to.
Take that trip you keep pushing off.
Sit on the porch and watch the sun set behind a swirl of red and gold leaves.
Say yes to what matters, even if it interrupts what feels urgent.

Years from now, you’ll look back on this season and realize it was more precious than you knew. The sound of the school bus. The crunch of leaves. The chaos of busy mornings.

They’ll be gone — but the memories will remain if you choose to make them.

Because the truth is…

The school years will pass.
The seasons will change.
And so will we.

The only question is — Will we have truly lived them, embraced them, and made the most of them?

Regards,
Scott
The Life Is Too Short Guy