I have this weird obsession. For me, there is something so incredibly appealing about school supplies that I can hardly contain myself. I don’t know if I’m the only one who feels this way, but for some reason when I’m in a store and I see school supplies I’m drawn to the aisle like a witty magnet to a fun organizational board.

I’m sure the logical question here is “Well are you in school? Just buy some supplies silly.” But no, I am not in school. I got my degree about eight years ago. Since then, I’ve taken a random ‘community education’ course here and there to quench the thirst for acquiring knowledge in a school-like atmosphere. Sometimes I think that if it didn’t cost so much I would take classes forever because I’m deeply attracted to the opportunity to learn new information about … anything and everything, really.

And school supplies, I suppose, represents a way to organize all of that alluring information. Countless binders, notebooks, planners, different colored pens, all presenting themselves and inspiring a lust for creativity and organization.

One of my favorite movies of all time is You’ve Got Mail. I don’t know why – probably the perfect dialogue between two perfectly written characters. Anyways, there’s a line in the beginning of the movie where Tom Hanks’ character writes to Meg Ryan’s character:

“Don’t you just love New York in the fall? It makes me want to go buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.”

Ugh! So adorable. And so relatable – at least for me.

And that’s the other thing – school supplies are always more prevalent during the fall (in America anyways) because of course that is when students need to purchase them to get ready to go back to school. I did always like that time of year – the excitement and preparation for a brand new year in a brand new grade, learning brand new things.

Perhaps that’s where the real appeal lies – the promise of something new, the indication of another year of your life, another season to look for new opportunities, or take new risks. A fresh start after all the fun, messy moments of summer.

The weather is changing here. The outfits are changing, even the beverages are changing (pumpkin spice anyone?). So what better time than now to consider personal, psychological or emotional changes as well?

This fall, I’m already in the middle of some big changes. I started this blog, I left my job (one of them) to search for something new and more fulfilling. And I set a personal heath goal that will hopefully result in a slightly smaller waist line and a slightly bigger bicep. All of these areas are, in their own way, a method for learning new things – but instead of learning about the architectural history of Spain, or the square root of an imaginary number, or the proper way to conjugate a verb, I’m learning about myself.

I’m learning what makes me happy, what makes me feel good, what motivates me, and what inspires me. I’m learning to pace myself and go with the flow, rather than planning out all of my next steps. And even though I’m not in a classroom or taking notes in a beautiful geometric patterned notebook with a newly sharpened pencil, it is still fun, meaningful, and exciting.

I don’t know what this new season of my life will bring. But I feel ready to face it, armed with some good books, some good friends, and several cups of coffee (pumpkin spiced or otherwise).

*Oh and I did purchase myself one new ‘school supply-ish’ thing. A brand new laptop! It was the nicest thing I’ve bought myself in far too long and I think I’m really going to enjoy it. 🙂