Summer has ended.  It’s OK, you can make a sad face.

When I was your age, I felt that way too.  Actually, I had mixed feelings about it; I was a little sad to bid summer goodbye, but at the same time I was kind of excited to see what the new school year would bring.  After all, I was one grade higher than last year… so that meant I was more mature and smarter, right?

I remember being excited to find out… Who was my homeroom teacher this year? Who was in my classes? Were there any new kids in school?  Was I going to have the same lunch as the boy I was crushing on?

You might be feeling or may have just felt these exciting questions stirring in your brain.  Back to school blues? No way! This year is going to be the best year yet! What a positive attitude you have! But guess what? That’s the best attitude you can have.

Every new school year, and every year of your life for that matter, has new opportunities, challenges, and adventures to explore. Every year is different, but different isn’t a bad thing. Nor is different exclusively a good thing. Different is just different. Different forces you to change in some way. Embracing the different and finding your best self there, makes you better than you were before.

At the start of this school year, I want you to think, “This is going to be a great year, and my best year yet!” Starting off with this positive attitude sets the stage for the rest of the year. That thought affects how you feel, how you present yourself to others, and how you respond to both fortune and adversity. And… it is actually easier to stay in that positive space when you begin there. It’s kind of like deliberately choosing to get out of the right side of the bed in the morning.

Once you’ve taken this positive attitude, I’d love for you to set an intention for the school year.  It can be something simple, like “I’m going to make a new friend”. Or, “I’m going to get an ‘A’ in math this year”. Or, “I’m going to tryout for soccer”. Pick something new, something different, and something that gets you excited; something that helps you chase away any blues and see the rainbow of opportunity and possibility in the new school year.

Back to school blues?  No way!  Only beautiful rainbows today!

About the Author: Lieutenant Colonel Theresa BODNAR, Monthly Mentor, is a full time Soldier in the Army, a certified Army Master Resilience Trainer (MRT), a Positive Psychology Practitioner, Eating Psychology Educator, Author of Get UPP!: Understanding Positive Psychology, and an aspiring Motivational Speaker. She is excited to get to know you and share all sorts of positive psychology tools, inspirational blogs, and poetry with you. Read More…

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