Rebel Talk: Seasonal Shift

Labor Day weekend at the cabin feels different. It always does. It’s not just another long weekend—it’s the pause between two seasons. The warmth of summer is still here, but just barely. You can feel it slipping away with each sunset that comes a little earlier, with every breeze that carries a hint of something cooler.

This weekend, it’s me, my boys, and one of their friends. The laughter is constant, the energy endless. They want to fish. They want to ride 4-wheelers. They want to tube until their arms ache from hanging on. To them, it’s not about time—it’s about squeezing in every thrill the day can hold.

But for me, it’s different. Today is likely the last hot day I’ll see here this season. By next weekend, when I come back with my girlfriend, the air will have shifted. Sweatshirts will replace swimsuits, and the water won’t hold the same invitation. Don’t get me wrong—I love fall. I love the cool nights, the bonfires, the peace that rolls in as the lake grows quieter. But the change, the transition—it hits me every time.

Because if I’m being honest, it’s not just about the weather. It’s about seasons in life.

I look around the cabin now, and it’s a beautiful kind of chaos. Towels draped over chairs, snack wrappers left behind, wet clothes in a heap by the door. Boots by the steps, fishing poles propped against the wall. It’s a mess, but it’s a mess that tells a story: life is happening here.

And here’s the thing—I know I’ll miss this someday. When the boys get older, when weekends get swallowed by sports schedules, jobs, or their own adventures, this mess won’t be here. The cabin will be neater, quieter… maybe too quiet.

So instead of getting caught up in the sadness of summer slipping away, I stop and ask myself:

• Am I truly present right now, in this stage of life?

• Am I taking in the sound of their laughter, the sight of their muddy shoes kicked off at the door?

• Am I realizing that these little things—the mess, the noise, the chaos—are actually the big things?

And that’s what I want to ask you, too.

What stage of life are you in right now? Are you taking it in, or are you rushing through it? Are you noticing the fingerprints on the windows, the toys left in the yard, the shoes that always seem to pile up by the door? Or are you wishing for the day things get “easier,” not realizing those things you complain about today may just be the things you’ll ache to have back tomorrow?

Seasons change—whether it’s summer to fall, kids growing older, or life pulling you from one chapter to the next. We can’t stop it. But we can choose how we embrace it.

For me, this weekend is summer’s finale. I can sit in the sadness of what’s ending, or I can celebrate the beauty of what’s right in front of me—the kids wanting one more ride, one more jump in the lake, one more day that feels endless. And when the cooler air comes, I’ll embrace that, too. The bonfires, the crisp mornings, the reflection that fall invites.

Because the truth is, both are beautiful. Both matter. Both deserve our full attention.

So take a moment today. Look around your life. What “mess” will you miss someday? What season are you in right now that deserves more gratitude, more presence, more appreciation?

Don’t let it slip by unnoticed. Don’t wait until it’s gone to realize it was everything.

This is the last hot day. Tomorrow will be different. And that’s okay. Because life isn’t about holding on to one season forever—it’s about embracing them all, and realizing that every transition, every stage, is a gift.

Stay Relentless,

Ryan