A new school year begins.

New books. New bags. New clothes. New schedules, challenges, joys, tensions.

Whatever your circumstance now, you know that “brand new year” feeling that each September brings.

It’s a mix of excitement, progress and change, getting together with friends again, all combined with a bit of dread as the freedoms of summer recede, not to be experienced again for…quite…some…time…ahead.

As a new year commences with the dawning of fall, what are the stresses, the stretches, the joys, the tensions of your next stretch of learning and growth ahead?

Perhaps this year there’s a challenge or two you plan to surmount – something you’ll conquer this time around that in the past, felt like it was conquering you.

Perhaps there’s a goal about which you say, “THIS time I WILL get past that fear, the learning curve, and around the bend. I WILL cross the finish line this time, and do it well. THIS TIME I WILL.”

Is there something like that for you, starting this new learning year?