Although formal schooling may be over for many of us, Labor Day Weekend still brings up the same old questions:

"Where did the time go?"
"Can you believe summer is almost over?"
"Doesn't it seem like yesterday that Memorial Day was here?"

I once read, "It is one thing to live in the past, it is another to dwell on it."

It's easy to get caught up in habits we've developed that produced past behaviors and feelings. Yet, even if we make the most incremental adjustment to our attitude, it can go a long way.

"What are you driving at, Joe?"

Simple. Reflect on the past favorably, but look forward to the wonderful things that lie ahead. Get excited about untapped opportunities. Challenge yourself to become better personally and professionally.

In my childhood, I used to be sad when summer was over. Memories of summer cottages, going to the pool, playing baseball, swimming in the lake and eating ice cream were aborted by uncomfortable long pants and homework.

Interestingly, this time of year still brings about those feelings. (Quick, hit the attitude awareness button!) Ah, now I think about football, high school, college and best of all, the NFL.

Soon, the colors will change and present the best season of all, autumn. Halloween, apple picking and pumpkin patches with my family are right around the corner. Oh and don't forget the heart-pounding intensity of baseball playoffs in the crisp fall weather.

Do I miss summer? Heck yeah! But in life there are so many things that are completely out of your control. Yet, well within your control is the power to focus on what you choose.

So which handle are you pulling, the past, which is gone forever, or the present and the future?

Now is a superb time to reassess what you have to look forward to. Write things down with those daily checklists we've shared in the past.

Need ideas? Try these:

• How's your exercise program doing?
• Playing a musical instrument or singing in a choir?
• Expanding your client list at work?
• Becoming a better teacher at school?
• Any great trips you're planning down the road?
• Need to change jobs? What are you proactively doing to put yourself in a better position? Whining does nothing, taking action does.

Yesterday, my wife, Sarah, and I took our 10-month-old, Willy, to his first major league baseball game. The White Sox won, 9-8, and Willy even had his name welcoming him to his first major league game on the centerfield scoreboard.

We'll never forget it. It was one of those extra-special days in life. We have the memory in our hearts and took great pictures as well.

As great is it was, we must get back in the saddle and look forward. For that's where we are most happy, confident and productive.

Or as Jimmy Buffett wrote in his song, "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes:"

"Yesterdays are over my shoulder so I can't look back for too long. There's just too much to see waiting in front of me, and I know that I just can't go wrong."

Joe Takash speaks at conferences, sales meetings and conventions for organizations looking to boost morale, customer loyalty and profit. He also serves as director of corporate relations for Robert Morris College. To learn more, visit his Web site at joetakash.com.