August is Good Medicine
Mark and Candi Gorski, Glen Lake Michigan August 2025
Ludington, Michigan was my absolute favorite. I loved the size of the town, the smell in the air and the breeze off the beach. Sit and do nothing – what a concept. The kids felt like little Magellans, exploring the incredible bike paths in the state park. Most afternoons included ice cream shops for the win. Nightly campfires were a ritual that helped recapture my sanity. A true calm before the storm.
The Gorskis, my cousin Mark and his wife Candi, were our travel partners 99% of the time. My cousin was – and still is – my best friend. Our families had children the same age, and over the years they became magical play partners. Their laughter was pure gold for parents looking to unwind. Picture the beach with a cool breeze, a cocktail in hand, and a sunset that can only be found in Michigan.
The high school football season is a grueling stretch that has no real starting point. The weightroom and speed training eat up the winter months. Offensive and defensive classroom installations pop up in the spring. Camps, 7 on 7’s, and conditioning sessions consume the summer.
Then for one well-timed week in early August, right before season practices start, a coach has a chance to take a breath. A chance to reconnect with family and friends. A chance – for just one microsecond – to forget about football.
At coaching clinics, I have seen many signs being sold that represent the firestorm about to happen: “We interrupt this marriage to bring you the high school football season;” “That smile on coach’s face will return after the season ends;” “Do not invite a football coach to a fall wedding;” and “Date night is temporally suspended for any month ending in -ber.”
On a recent trip to the Glen Arbor region in northern Michigan, I experienced a nostalgic flashback to those preseason vacations and I sent a text to current head coach, Daryn Letson of Marine City High School. (I had the privilege to coach in that great community for 33 years, the last eight as head coach.) I typed: “The reason I am texting is to share how much I miss this time. If I haven’t told you lately, I am so proud of what you have done with the program. Cherish these times!”
One of the benefits of these August vacations is that you can disconnect from the world and reconnect with your most important priorities. After a short break from the TV news and social media, it can be overwhelming to witness the division developing in our country.
August steps in yearly to shoot “community” into the arms of its stakeholders. This late summer month steps in to create hope, anticipation and purpose for athletes, band members, and cheerleaders. Very few witness the countless hours they spend working hard to improve their skills. Friday nights may be the greatest community event any town can offer its residents.
In September 2022, I wrote a piece for my blog titled, “Maybe the Last Bastion of True America.” The post discussed my experience sitting in the stands of a high school football game played in Sandusky, Michigan. “As the band blasted out the National Anthem and the crowd stood in honor, a realization hit me like never before. Right before my eyes, there it was, this beautiful scene with this powerful song reverberating in my lungs – I was witnessing the absolute best version of America. As I eavesdropped on conversations near and around me, there was no discussion of partisan politics, no ugly judgements being thrown, and there were no divisive ads being blasted on the PA system. The home crowd at Sandusky was all on the same page to support the hard-working members of the band, the cheerleaders, and of course, the team. The age-range in the stands was representative of our population, too, with moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, and younger brothers and sisters.”
Flash forward to 2025 and we need August more than ever: the month that can be a grind as it demands early wake-ups and self-discipline; the month that becomes the catalyst of chemistry and starts the building of a team; the month that forces unity between uncommon young men toward a common goal – becoming a part of something bigger than yourself, and learning that your joy will outshine your effort.
I often joked that football season doesn’t really start until someone throws up at practice. As week one of the Michigan high school football season concludes, I am sure regurgitation has occurred across the state. Some young men don’t heed the warnings of the coaches and are unprepared. I am also completely confident that many young men are exceeding physical limits they never thought were possible.
The confidence and self-esteem generated from these small victories stack up. These student athletes walk taller, spend more time utilizing eye contact, and understand and respect the value of hard work. August can be a hard month and that is what makes it a great month. Our country needs to continue a mindset that good comes from hard work.
If you haven’t taken in a high school football game recently, consider doing so for the good of your soul. I encourage you to not only watch the game, but to also see the excellence contributed by the cheerleaders and marching band. Close your eyes occasionally and enjoy the sounds of unity and community. Smell the popcorn, eat the popcorn, and allow a temporary escape from the negativity we are too often exposed to.
We, along with our country, need August. August is good medicine!