I’ve always thought August feels more like New Year’s than January.
For families, this is when life really resets. The backpacks come out, football practices begin, calendars fill up, and suddenly we’re back to juggling carpools, Friday night lights, and everything in between.
This year, August feels a little different in our house.
My daughter, Alexis, is beginning her senior year of college, and my son, Blake, is starting his senior year at Highland Park High School. As every parent who’s been there knows, those words are enough to make you pause.
Where did the time go?
As I looked ahead to Blake’s final lacrosse season and Alexis’ last year of college, it struck me that while they’re preparing for what’s next, maybe it’s okay for me to think about what’s next, too.
That thought shaped my summer in an unexpected way.
Instead of filling every free moment with projects, I started making time for people. I reached out to friends I’d been saying “Let’s get together soon!” to for far too long.
One afternoon I listened to someone describe what it was like to fly fighter jets. Another day, I met a woman who turned her creative vision into a luxury brand. There were conversations with journalists, restaurant owners, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and neighbors whose life experiences couldn’t have been more different from my own.
What amazed me wasn’t what they did for a living. It was how much I learned simply by listening.
Every conversation offered a new perspective, a fresh idea, or a reminder that everyone has a story worth hearing if we’re willing to ask.
Somewhere along the way, curiosity became one of the greatest gifts of my summer.
It also reminded me how easy it is to stay in our routines. Between football games, school events, work, and family life, it’s easy to spend time with the same people every week without even realizing it. Before we know it, another school year has come and gone.
The more conversations I had, the more I realized that what makes our community so special isn’t just our schools or traditions. It’s the remarkable people who quietly make this place what it is every day.
As we head into another school year, I’m looking forward to everything that makes August special. But I’m also challenging myself to leave room for something new. A new friendship. A new lunch date. A new conversation. A little more curiosity.
Maybe that’s why August has always felt like New Year’s to me.
It’s the season when our kids begin a new chapter.
Maybe it’s a reminder that we can begin new chapters, too.
Because no matter what season of life we’re in, I don’t think we ever finish growing. Sometimes all it takes is saying yes to a conversation you almost didn’t have.
And if this summer has taught me anything, it’s that some of life’s best opportunities don’t begin with a big plan.
Sometimes, they begin with a simple cup of coffee.
Martha Jackson, host of The Bubble Lounge Podcast, has lived in University Park for 20 years. She’s passionate about connecting with fellow moms, supporting local businesses, and finding humor in the chaos. You can find her at bubblelounge.net and on Instagram @bubbleloungepodcast.
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