The summer is sandwiched between Memorial Day, a day to remember those who died while serving in the armed forces of the United States, and Labor Day, a day dedicated to the social and economic achievements of  American workers.

I’ve always viewed Memorial Day as a time to reflect and to remember those who died serving our country, but also those who lived.  Maybe that’s just me, but I always think about both the living and the dead on Memorial Day.

Summer officially begins at the University Club of Memphis, where I’ve been a member for more than thirty years, on Memorial Day weekend.  Based on lots of conversations with others, it is the same in many places.  And it seems to end after Labor Day weekend, which is the last time that families gather at the pool for the summer.

I tend to view Labor Day as a time to reflect and to be with friends and family. It is also a time when lots of stores, like Macy’s, have massive Labor Day sales. Because school has already begun in most places before Labor Day, it is not usually a weekend for long travel plans.

But many folks, including me, will be grilling burgers and dogs over the weekend.  And football, and, of course, the U.S. Open.  I’m sure I’m missing a major golf tournament, as well.

I’ll be with family and friends as much as possible this weekend, and talking to all who are not in Memphis.   If you haven’t done so yet, pick up your phone or make a Facetime call and connect with loved ones.

I also view Labor Day as an inflection point each year.  Spring and summer are gone, and a good portion of the year has passed.  Many of us set goals for the year at the beginning of each year.  Labor Day weekend is an excellent point to take stock of where we are with our goals and what we need to do in the remainder of the year to achieve them.

If you have good momentum toward your goals, do everything in your power to keep it up.  If you don’t have momentum toward your goals, do everything in your power to gain it as the end of the year rushes towards you.  That advice comes from one of my early mentors, Wally Lowenbaum.  I talk about some of his advice here.

Thinking about the year thus far led me to write this short post.  If it encourages you to pick up the phone and call a loved one or friend, that’s great. If it encourages you to find a couple of hours to reflect on the state of your goals for the year, that wonderful, as well.

As we pause for Labor Day, I’d like to wish all readers of this blog a weekend of blessings, reflection and good conversation.

The Labor Day inflection point is here.  From here, we all rush into the rest of the year.  Happy rushing!

Until next time,

Chris