FAMILY blog
G rowing up, I used to look to September with
day alone and unplugged. For me, taking deep breaths
a tinge of excitement. The beginning of a
and thinking only on the present is easier said than done!
new school year meant getting a clean slate
The summer craziness leaves most of us feeling a bit
- new teachers, new clothes, new classmates,
unraveled, so I hope to regroup and get refocused during
new activities, new books – the list goes on. In many
these 30 days of self-improvement. I hope to use it as a
ways, it felt like a “pre-New Year.” It was the month that
time to get back into a comfortable and positive regime by
allowed me to start anew and look forward to pivotal life
finding creative ways to schedule and stay organized.

changes. Lastly, I’m choosing to reenergize this month with a new
With my school days far behind me, I’d lost that special
health regime, and can’t wait to try out enticing nutrition
admiration and excitement for September. I saw it as a
trends, including more new “superfoods,” (like turmeric,
precursor to the “heart” of fall - a quick 30-day detour
featured on pg. 46 this month!). I’m also signing up for a
before the fun-filled holiday months began. And that’s
new exercise routine, and want to mix up my workouts
pretty sad, right? So I decided to make a change this year
with the recently popular Barre-Cardio or Pound classes –
and clock it back to my school-kid mindset.

which I’ve heard raves about.

I needed to find a little inspiration for my retro-September
All in all, I’m embracing September as a fresh and healthy
plan, so naturally, I began my quest on the Internet. I
reboot. It will be a time to refocus my mind and body
began by browsing the mother load of all inspiration:
before the overindulging holidays push their way in. If
Pinterest. As I was perusing through the vast array of
you’re like me and need a dose of September inspiration
delectable recipes, trendy fashions and fall crafting ideas,
as well, I challenge you to take a hard step back from
I came across two pins side by side. One declared that
pumpkin-spice dreaming and Halloween pre-shopping to
September is National Self-Improvement Month and
reflect, regroup, reenergize and make Self Improvement
the other was a quote that read, “Be in the now.” OK,
Month something to once again look forward to!
September – I see you!
I proceeded to come up with my September action plan
right then and there, which I have summed up in three
words: Reflect. Regroup. Reenergize. I’m calling it my
“Three R’s for September.”
Britni Petersen
I’m using this time to reflect in small ways, such as
Editor starting a daily journal, diving into a new fall book
Washington FAMILY Magazine
collection or simply making myself spend 30 minutes each
6 August 2016 washingtonFAMILY.com
bpetersen@thefamilymagazine.com