It's Ok To Feel Weird Right Now

There’s something about August that feels... off.

You might not be able to name it exactly — a strange mix of restlessness, nostalgia, fatigue, maybe even sadness — and that’s okay. This time of year holds a unique emotional complexity, and you’re allowed to feel weird right now. There are a few different reasons for this strange space, here are a few:

The Quiet Grief of Summer Ending

Summer carries so many expectations and excitement: relaxation, fun, travel, long days, adventures and the glow of fireflies in the early evening hours. As August settles in, it can feel like the final page of a chapter you’re not quite ready to close. Whether your summer was full and satisfying or quiet and disappointing, its end can stir up a quiet grief — the kind that doesn’t get talked about much, but still sits heavy in your chest.

You might feel the ache of things that didn’t happen. The vacation you couldn’t take. The memories you didn’t get to make. The way you hoped to feel — and didn’t.

Grief doesn’t just show up in moments of loss. It can appear when seasons change, when time passes, when things feel unfinished. And it’s okay to let that grief exist.

When Summer Wasn’t What You Hoped

Maybe you had plans — to rest, to heal, to spend more time outside, to feel more connected. And maybe those things didn’t happen. That can be deeply disappointing.

Sometimes, we blame ourselves for that: I should have tried harder, planned better, been more present.

But the truth is, life doesn't always line up with intention. Illness, bad weather, exhaustion, unexpected responsibilities, or emotional struggles can make it hard to “make the most” of anything — especially summer, with its pressure to be both restful and fulfilling.

You’re allowed to grieve a summer that didn’t meet your hopes. And you’re allowed to forgive yourself for how it went.

Back-to-School Energy Isn’t Just for Kids

Even if you’re not a student or a parent, August still signals transition. Stores are filled with school supplies, routines start to shift, and there’s a collective hum of preparation in the air. The impending shift in seasons signify a transition that can be both comforting and hard all at once.

This season can reawaken old emotional patterns: anxiety about structure, memories from childhood, fears about another year passing without the change you hoped for. Or it might simply feel like your internal rhythm doesn’t match the external push to “move forward.”

If you are a parent, you're being flooded with school information, forms to fill out, online platforms to join and dates to add to your calendar – oh and don't forget the hunting and purchasing of all the supplies, backpacks, shoes and water bottles (go ahead and just buy five water bottles now, you know they're gonna lose them on a biweekly basis).

If you're a student, albeit a traditional college student or a student who decided to return to the classroom later in life, there is a lot of transition and stress to manage right now. It's a firehose of information in those first few days and you're probably just trying to find your footing.

You are not behind.You are not lazy.You are simply human in a shifting season.

So What Now?

Start with permission.Permission to feel weird.To not know exactly what you need.To carry a mix of gratitude and disappointment.To want more rest even as the world speeds up again.

Instead of rushing to fix your feelings, get curious about them. What are they trying to tell you? What do they need?

August is a strange but sacred space — a threshold between seasons. It’s okay to linger here. To slow down. To listen. To not have it all figured out.

You don’t have to be ready for what’s next.

You just have to be here, the rest will come and you will rise to meet it.