For most of my adult life the holiday has meant time off from work and a long four-day weekend perfect for a short vacation. However, when I was young, Labor Day was my mother’s birthday, picnics, magical parades and the first day of school. Today, I have children of my own who have already started their senior year of high school and college. The radio, television and even the Internet share what great savings we’ll enjoy by shopping this weekend. The end of summer is being announced as if it is a season finale instead of a change of seasons. And of course, one of my favorites, the NFL season starts on Thursday.

So today, as I thought about the holiday, I realized that I knew more about how we celebrate and little about it’s origins beyond that it honors those who labor. So in my research, I discovered that Labor Day was originated in Canada out of labor disputes in the 1870s. The parades held in support of the labor movement led to an annual celebration. In 1882, Peter J. McGuire, an American labor leader was inspired to organize the first American “labor day” after witnessing one of the labor festivals in Toronto. The first American Labor Day was on September 5, 1882.

Now I must admit that the way we celebrate is much more uplifting than the origins of its birth but it caused me to reflect on the most recent recession and its effect on the workforce. With many different viewpoints to consider including the 90.3% employment rate and the 9.7% unemployment rate, I choose to look at the surge in entrepreneurship and the creativity that displaced workers are using as they transition from their career to their passion.

The gift of this economy is that many people have decided to reclaim ownership of their lives. Over the past year there have been many inspiring stories of people who have decided to reconcile their talent or work experience with their passion and work from their heart.

A few months ago my husband told me the story of Angela Logan who was featured on Headline News. She was facing foreclosure and instead of focusing on the illusion of what she didn’t want to happen she connected with her passion. She raised the money for her mortgage by baking and selling her delicious ‘Mortgage Apple Cakes’. She was so successful that she now has a business that she is aligned with, is profitable and pays it forward to help other homeowners who are having difficulty paying their mortgage. Her cakes are ordered from all over the United States and as far away as Iraq. Angela’s cakes can be ordered at www.bakemeawish.com

So while there will be plenty of workers who will enjoy a day off on Monday and many who may be looking for jobs online, there will also be plenty of women like Angela who will be starting or expanding their ventures of the heart.

How will you be celebrating your Labor Day?