You’ve been logging in the hours at work in front of the desk and computer screen, but now hopefully you can celebrate some of that hard work with a long weekend. Your back has been aching, but hopefully the extra day will give it the much needed rest it deserves.

Why do we celebrate Labor Day? Because we are celebrating you! Labor Day is always the first Monday in September and was created by the labor movement of the late 1800’s. It is dedicated to the achievements of American workers (you!). The holiday is a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

As a nation, we first celebrated Labor Day on Tuesday, September 5^th 1882, and it was organized by the Central Labor Union in New York. By 1885, the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday and it was celebrated in many industrial cities around the U.S. Today it is universally celebrated around the nation.

So this Monday give your aching back a rest, maybe a back yard barbecue as the summer winds down, or take some time to read a great book. But be sure to take time to pay tribute to the creator of many of our nations strengths—the American Worker (you!).

~Sean Hogan has coached hockey at the international and collegiate levels for over ten years. He has spoken at numerous events about culture building, goal setting and healthy lifestyles. He holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Recreation and Sports Science with an emphasis on Coaching Education from OHIO University.