The season of pencils, perspective, and planting something new

a note from our CEO and co-Founder, Donna Letier

When I was a kid, back-to-school season wasn’t just the start of classes — it was an event. Whether I was in elementary school in Alaska or high school in Singapore, it always came with anticipation, nervous excitement, and little rituals that made everything feel real. I remember walking the school supply aisles with my mom — carefully selecting the perfect No. 2 pencils, spiral notebooks, and a new lunchbox. I was always hopeful that this would be the year everything clicked… and that maybe I’d finally avoid a trip to the principal’s office for talking too much in class.

Years later, I found myself recreating those same rituals with Madison and Jillian. New backpacks. Fresh folders. First-day outfits laid out with care. We weren’t just preparing for a school year — we were preparing for a new season of life. And somehow, those small acts of readiness grounded us, anchoring our hearts in the rhythm of change.

These days, back-to-school supply lists look a little different. It’s less about crayons and three-ring binders and more about laptops, iPhones, and shared calendars. Shopping happens online. Lists arrive via email. First-day photos are uploaded to group albums before the car even pulls out of the driveway.

But the feeling of August remains.
It’s a month where emotions collide — joy, nostalgia, hope, and sometimes a quiet anxiety as we prepare for what’s next. Whether you’re sending a child off to college, walking your kindergartener into class for the first time, starting a new job, or simply adjusting to the end of summer hours and the return to routine — August reminds us that change is here.

Last week, at a Gardenuity wellness event, we were talking about perspective — and how the back-to-school season isn’t just for students. It’s for all of us. The conversation turned to how we prepare ourselves mentally and emotionally for the new season ahead.

I offered two simple, heartfelt suggestions:
Get a desktop garden. And a new mug.

A desktop garden is more than just something beautiful to look at — it’s a living reminder to slow down. To be present. To nurture something that, in turn, nurtures you. Research shows that tending to plants can reduce stress, enhance creativity, and boost overall well-being.

And the mug? That’s your invitation to savor. Whether it’s filled with coffee, tea, or hot water with lemon and sage, let it remind you to pause. To breathe. To call your mom. (Studies even show those regular calls might extend your life—and hers.)

Like so many things, we often sip our beverages while rushing from one thing to the next. But let this mug be something different. Let it be your daily nudge to slow down. To choose presence over pace. To remind yourself: you are growing too.

This is the last full month of summer. A time to both celebrate what’s blooming and gently prepare for what’s next.
Clear your desk. Refresh your space. Plant something meaningful.
And embrace this beautiful, transitional moment — fully.

Growing together with gratitude,

Donna Letier
Co-Founder & CEO, Gardenuity