Fall's Fresh Start

The great American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, "Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall." And he's got a point, doesn't he? There's an inherent newness to autumn. Maybe the season will be perpetually tied to the start of a new school year—even long after we've graduated. I've always appreciated that "fresh start" feeling of fall. Way more than New Year's. Because the season feels like a time to get down to work. After a summer of taking it easy (traveling, swimming and spending long, lazy days outside), you're ready for change. You're prepared mentally and physically to try something new.

So that's just what I'm going to do—embrace these scholastic fall feelings and challenge myself to tackle things I've never attempted before. To acquire a new skill or two. Just because I'm out of school doesn't mean there aren't things to learn. After all, if you sit back and look at your life, you'll see areas in which you can be a better, more well-rounded man. For example, I've been biking a lot over the summer, but until this week, I'd never changed my bike's tire. Never cleaned and oiled the chain or adjusted the gears and brakes. But after reading a few articles and watching some YouTube clips, there I was—with my trusty tools, grease-stained hands and a bike that was now better than new. And while the task was relatively simple, the sense of accomplishment was great (so was the pride of riding a bike with brakes that no longer squeak).

The lesson here, so to speak, is that it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind. But when the opportunity arises to step outside of your comfort zone and expand your abilities, you're always a better man for it. The season's just getting started and there's plenty to learn. In fact, fall hasn't even technically begun yet. The autumnal equinox falls on September 22. See, you're learning stuff already.