Here’s your science lesson for today:

An equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is aligned with the Sun, tilting neither toward it, nor away. The center of the Sun is in the same plane as the Earth’s equator. The term equinox can also be used in a broader sense, meaning the date when such a passage happens.

The name “equinox” is derived from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night), because around the equinox, the night and day are approximately equal. There is a spring equinox and an autumnal equinox. This year, the autumnal equinox is tomorrow, September 22, at exactly 8:09 pm PDT, when we step over the line from summer into fall.

A new season always inspires me to do something new. It’s not the start of a new year, but it’s certainly a fresh beginning, and a time to consider stretching our limits a little to see just how smart and wonderful we really are.

What have you always wanted to do? Play the piano? Learn to watercolor paint? Take up square dancing? How about a creative writing class? What’s on your bucket list that you want to tackle next? You’re the only one holding you back. Dream big!