Hi again—it’s Diana from Healthy Seniors.
September went by in a blur. One moment we were soaking in the tail end of summer, and the next—backpacks, alarm clocks, and lunchboxes took over our mornings again. My daughter is 13 now and starting 8th grade, and my son, at 11, has just stepped into 6th. They’re growing so fast, and each school year feels like a new chapter for them—and for me, too. Suddenly, our evenings are filled with homework help, soccer practice schedules, and family dinners squeezed in before bedtime. It’s busy, yes, but it’s also a reminder of how precious these everyday routines are.
Amid the swirl of back-to-school, I also carved out time for two weekend events. The first was business-related, and the second focused on personal development. At first glance, they couldn’t have been more different—but both gave me something deeply fulfilling: connection. I met people who left a real impression on me, the kind of people you want to keep in your life long after the event ends.
The business event was energizing—it’s always exciting to share ideas, swap stories, and realize how much opportunity is out there when people come together. But it was the personal development weekend that touched me in a deeper way. There was laughter, yes, but also tears—the kind that sneak up on you when you’re in a room where vulnerability feels safe. I left that weekend with a new awareness of myself. I realized how often I underestimate what I have to offer, and how easy it is to get tangled in the stories we tell ourselves about our limits. Other people often see strengths we overlook in ourselves, and sometimes the only thing between us and the support we need is the willingness to be open and ask for help. That lesson feels like one I’ll carry with me for a long time.
Now that October is here, I’m thinking about the small shifts that make a big difference. One thing that became really clear to me last month is how much I use the words “should” and “must.” I should exercise. I must work. I should spend more time with the kids. I must eat healthier. Every time I say it, it feels like a weight, like I’m carrying around a list of obligations.
So this month, I’m trying a new practice: replacing “must” and “should” with “choose.” I choose to exercise. I choose to spend time with my kids and my husband. I choose to eat food that makes me feel good. I choose to be happy and grateful. It’s a subtle change, but already it feels lighter—more empowering. Instead of life happening to me, I’m reminding myself that I’m an active participant. These are choices I get to make, not burdens I have to carry.
The second intention I’ve set for October is even more personal. I realized recently that, although I love my children and my husband deeply and I show it every day, it feels strangely hard to say the words out loud. When I do, it often comes out as a question: “You know I love you, right?” I think part of it goes back to my own childhood—my parents showed me love in countless ways, but they didn’t often put it into words. It doesn’t really matter why, though. What matters is that I want to break that pattern. I don’t want my kids to grow up feeling any hesitation about saying those three words, to me or to their own children one day. So this October, I’m choosing to be more intentional about saying I love you—not just showing it, but speaking it.
To go along with that, I found this fun “Optimistic October” chart (see the image above). It’s filled with little prompts—things like replacing worry with curiosity, writing yourself a postcard, or simply noticing where you carry hope in your body. They’re tiny reminders, but they connect so well with my theme for this month: being intentional with how I frame my days. If you’re looking for a spark to shift your perspective, maybe try a few of them with me this October.
So that’s my focus for October: choosing consciously, and saying out loud the things that matter most.
And I’d love to hear from you. What did September teach you? As we step into fall—this season of both transition and possibility—what are you choosing for yourself? Rest? Renewal? New habits? Sometimes sharing our intentions helps us stick with them, and who knows—you might inspire someone else along the way.
Here’s to a month of choosing well—and speaking love freely.