As I’m writing this, I’m enjoying myself in Charleston, a place I have been obsessively wanting to visit for a few years now. I have heard and read so much about the place, a beautiful southern charm city with a lot of history, architecture, colorful buildings. and quite marvelous array of phenomenal restaurants. 

As much as we are accustomed to iPads, Kindles, iPhones, nothing beats an old-fashioned book—admiring the cover, holding it in your hands, and turning pages. Over time, sadly, we are moving further away from the enjoyment of reading. Content like social media gives us quick pleasure and excitement.

The first Monday of September brings Labor Day, the unofficial sendoff to summer. For most Americans, that means a long weekend, a lighter week at school or the office, and maybe one more cookout before fall routines take over.

Let’s be honest, we are all dreading back to school. Rushing, nagging, Ubering the kids around, quick meals, ugh—its exhausting even thinking about it. And like many of you, I still don't understand why schools must start in August. Would it hurt anyone to start after Labor Day? C’mon. Growing up in Russia, schools always started on September 1. We were all dreading it and secretly hating it, but we had at least three months of summer.