*a four-minute read*
Summer’s officially over—and for a lot of us, our bank accounts are breathing a sigh of relief. Overdraft protection came in clutch, and for that we thank God (a little blessed assurance for us all).
Two years ago on Timeless Thoughts, I discussed how the end of summer in Toronto, Canada, is recognized on Labour day, once the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) is over. Think of this as the bat signal—the city wide alert to know it’s time to stay indoors and not spend over $45 on Ubers and Cutwaters from the LCBO (if you know, you know).
The kids of today would probably call Summer 2025 “lit” or say “the side quests were side questing,” reassuring me that the school system is failing us and we need to get the kids back in the classrooms (effective immediately).
While I can’t fully get behind their word choice, I can double down on the sentiment that this was one of the best summers I have experienced and it was indeed, “lit”.
For many of us, May through August 2025 gave us moments we’ll never forget—lifelong memories, generational side quests, and stories that range from pure joy to slight regret (depending on who’s telling it). First off, we’ve got to be grateful we were able to experience it all. But just as important, we should reflect on how to carry the lessons and energy of this summer into the final four months of the year.
You Have To Live
Being trapped in the sunken place of snow, stuck in -20° weather, and shovelling your driveway three times a week would make anyone want to stay inside. And from November to April in any given year, this is how we feel on this side of the world. But one hit of that Toronto sun is all it takes to spark confidence, energy, and joy—the kind that makes the kid from Rexdale feel alive again (yes, that’s me if you were wondering).
The truth is, everything feels better with some sun and heat sprinkled into the equation. Even science backs it up—vitamin D boosts your mood, decreases depression, and strengthens bone health, too (that’s right, I was a biology major for 72 hours).
Summer makes it easier to live fully. From concerts and day parties to community programs, everything is more accessible when the city comes alive. I even had the honour of hosting my own event this year, and one of my biggest takeaways is simple: life feels richer when you’re present and intentional.
Being true to yourself and pursuing what you want is the key to living fully—but it takes intention. For me, staying grounded in the Bible keeps me aligned when distractions try to pull me off track.
Which raises the bigger question: why reserve that mindset for just four months of the year? Why not carry the same energy into fall and winter?
That’s where The Great Lock-In comes in.
“The Great Lock-In”
It has been unavoidable to see people talk about this topic all over my socials, so if you haven’t heard of it, allow me to be the first to explain it to you.
The Great Lock-In runs from September 1st to December 31st—a season of self-commitment where you lock in on yourself and your goals. The “rules” differ depending on who you ask, but the core idea remains the same: real transformation can happen in just a few months if you truly commit. And honestly, credit to Gen Z—this might be one of their better terms. So the score’s tied up, 1-1.
I can wholeheartedly vouch for how one’s life can change in three months; I am a living testimony of how this happened for me.
In 2023, I received a position upgrade at work, moved to a new province a four-hour plane ride from home, and had to adjust to doing everything on my own in three months. This was one of the best experiences of my life. While I did move into an area of unknown, it allowed me to see how fast things can transform if you give yourself the grace to let change to enter your environment. This was coming off a summer where I felt any big changes in my life were going to be scarce.
Let this be a lesson that the joy and memories of summer don’t need to be locked away—we can carry them forward (unless, of course, you let the Cutwater win… in which case, maybe keep that file tucked away).
Fall and winter still bring plenty of opportunities: events, concerts, and everything in between. We shouldn’t limit ourselves to just showing face (standard abbreviation for showing up to an outing for a brief period) once it gets a little cold outside.
The energy of summer can spill into the final stretch of the year—it doesn’t need to look as flashy or carry the same effortless glow, but it can still hold weight.
The way I see the Great Lock-In is as a chance to realign and reinforce your foundation. It’s not about hitting a hard reset on life—it’s about rebuilding the framework and doubling down on what can make these last four months productive, profitable, and meaningful.
If you’ve already built strong habits, keep them alive. Better yet, challenge yourself—push the boundaries a little more and see what you’re really capable of.
This is the season to level up and test how far you can take it. I will be doing this for myself and documenting the journey, looking forward to see where this will go and how it can set up different avenues of growth for the same kid from Rexdale.
More To Come
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed this slice-of-life article that I had to share with the masses.
In the paragraphs above, I briefly talked about how I will be documenting what I will be doing over the next four months, which is a practice I have seen all over social media. I’m not sure yet what form this journey will take—it might show up in different ways. But one thing I know for sure: writing and print have become a part of who I am, so I’m excited to see where this path leads.
Feel free to share with a friend and answer the question below!
“As we step into the Great Lock-In, what’s the one area you’ll commit to from now until the end of 2025?”
Catch Part 1 of this series below!
Timeless Thoughts 