The Bay Area had some weird Midwest-like thunderstorms last night and this morning, which is really rare for California in August. We just don’t typically get that kind of weather. After having a bit of a lie-in, I did my routine this morning and felt that eerie quiet before the storm, or between storms. One side of the sky was turning into a clear sunny day, while the opposite remained dark and foreboding. The barometric pressure felt off—the dog even didn’t want to go on a walk. It made me think of the calm before the storm that is now—a new school year unlike any other is upon us. Autumn isn’t quite here yet but is well on its way. It feels as if there’s a shift occurring. We seem to be no closer to ridding ourselves of the coronavirus, and it’s almost as if there’s an acceptance to it. In the moments of inhalation before the plunge, it’s wise to reflect with one's heightened awareness. Where are we now as a society? Where are we going? There are no easy answers, but if we keep such questions top-of-mind, we will be more conscious of possible solutions. Remember to pause after the intake of breath, to pause before the leap. There is no fatalism to our predicament. We make our own luck, influence our own fate, and create our own destiny. Here we go.