Labor Day always feels like the last of summer. It’s a day to slow down, spend time with family, and maybe squeeze in one more cookout or day with the kids before fall really takes over. At the same time, it’s good to remember that the holiday was created to honor the hard work of ordinary people—the kind of work that keeps our lives running day to day. It’s both a break and a reminder of the value of work itself.
Labor Day began in the late 1800s when workers across the country wanted better pay, safer conditions, and shorter hours. The very first Labor Day parade took place in New York City in 1882, when thousands of workers marched together to make their voices heard. A dozen years later, in 1894, Congress made it a national holiday. Ever since, the first Monday in September has been a time to honor the people whose hard work builds and sustains our communities.
I chose to spend my Labor Day organizing paperwork. Yesterday my new two-drawer filing cabinet arrived, and it felt wrong to have it sitting empty while another drawer was stuffed to the gills with a mishmash of papers. I woke up this morning determined to right that wrong.
I took the time to sort and create files for all the folders the previous owners had left behind. More than once I’ve needed a manual and spent 20–30 minutes digging around for it. Now everything has its own folder and a proper place.
Meanwhile, Joe spent most of the day outside weeding. He says weeding isn’t labor for him—it’s something he enjoys, with his hands in the dirt and the yard taking shape.
It may not have been a grand holiday, but it was a good day—full of the kind of ordinary work that makes life run smoother and our home feel more settled.
If you want to read more about the history of labor day: https://www.dol.gov/general/laborday/history
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