Savor September’s Summer

In the Northeast United States, September can bring a mix of weather and emotions. The days seem to be fading more quickly. There’s a bite in the air when the sun is blocked. And yet when the sky is clear the sun can feel warmer than the temperature.

Perhaps because the clear, warm days are fewer and farther between, when a glorious day comes, we seem to notice it more.

At least that’s how I feel.

When a warm September day arrives I want to savor every moment outside. I don’t want to be on Zoom talking to heads in boxes.

I don’t want to be in the makeshift world of online communities communicating in writing with people who exist as small images connected to words.

I don’t want to be in the fake world of social media feeds.

I want to be outside in the sun, interacting in the real world with real people. I want to feel the ground under my feet, the fresh air against my skin, and the sun on my face.

Keenly aware that these days are limited, I want to soak in every last drop.

It’s easy to take a 75° day in July for granted. In the heat of the summer, 75° isn’t something to disrupt your day over.

But in September it’s a different story.

This season of the year makes us aware that these days are fleeting.

Everywhere we turn, we are reminded that life itself is fleeting.

The days are getting shorter. Leaves are falling from the trees. The sun is losing strength in the sky and traveling a lower arc. Nature is starting to decay and shrivel. It’s a reminder that our days are numbered.

The seasonal transition — back to school, the Jewish holidays, the anniversary of 9/11 — are a reminder that life is short.

How many more of these good days do we have?

Of course, the illusion is that this time of year is different. Life is always precarious. We never know what the future will bring.

But this time of year we get reminders in this lesson.

On the precipice of Fall’s arrival, the fleeting nature of life is palpable.

The holiday of Sukkot reminds us that life, like a sukkah, is fragile. We don’t know how much time we have here.

We can let this idea throw us into anxiety about the future or we can seize the moment to shift our focus.

Focus on what matters most. What gives you energy and makes you happy?

Be present. Get off the screens. Focus on what’s real. What’s here. What’s now.

If I get a chance to be on a beach on a glorious September day that’s where you’ll find me.

Feet in the sand, walking through the water. Being in that perfect place where the elements collide and where I can touch the magic of creation.

late summer beach days
fleeting gifts to be treasured
seize them with delight