This Summer

It is the summer, a time of excitement, fun and levity. But the season is a bit different this year. Not just because of the virus, but also because of all of the unrest in the country. When watching the news is almost enough to give you PTSD, what can you do?

I think the answer is to tune out so you can tune in. Sounds pretty cheesy? Maybe in words but not in practice. What I mean by that is to tune out all of the noise and the news. Then, get still and listen to yourself. Listen for your inner voice. Take this time to truly reflect and settle. We can’t go anywhere anyway, so why not tune inward a bit, and get to know your soul again. All those things that make you happy, that maybe you have not had time for? Well take advantage of the time now.

Did you love to read books, but haven’t had the time? Gardening? Learning a new language? Or how about just figuring out what you want to do next? A good friend of mine has had a lot of change in the last 18 months and her life is very different now than it was. So now she is taking this time to “figure out her life.” What if we all did the same?

What is all of us took this time to fix the things we could about our lives and what we wanted? What if we came out of the quarantine much healthier, with much better quality of life and in better mental and emotional state? In this day and age, is that even possible? Yes indeed, I think it is. We just have to put in the work.

Sleep late if you need to, work in the year, read the books, talk and get to you the kids, or your partner, or even yourself. Maybe this time is a gift that has been given to us to press reset and take care of ourselves and loved ones like we should have been doing, but got to busy to do.

I have started a garden (the desperately needs weeding), unpacked and fully organized the house, and am now editing my series of books to (finally) be published. But I am also spending time with myself, enjoying the calm. Having a cold glass of wine on the patio in the evening, enjoying a song on the radio, dealing with the grief of this time of year for me. Even folding all of the laundry. All of these things aren’t pleasant, but they are needed. and they all add to the beautiful mosaic of life (thanks Rex).

Life is short. Take time during the summer, this summer, to redefine what is important. Take time to make this the most unforgettable summer ever, because it is YOUR summer, for the first time in a long time.