As you look ahead at the next three months, part of the "Living for Today" initiative is to make some plans so you can take advantage of all that summer has to offer. Planning ahead may sound counterintuitive to "living for today" but actually, that's how you do just that.
You know your life--your responsibilities, your obligations--so by planning around those "have-tos" you can take better advantage of what is a fairly limited season of the sun for a majority of the United States and Canada. If you're in the Pacific Rim, this is, of course, your winter season. But Europe has similar seasons to the US--and like the US, based on latitude, can be warm year round, like Italy or Greece, or have real winters, like Finland. We have readers from Dubai who might say their season of the sun is limitless...which would be true. Still, there's something about summer that is easier. It really is the middle season in that way. Like a middle child, it's laid back, well-adjusted, and kind of goes with the flow. And if you do live in an area of the world where you must deal with snow and cold, summer is like a divine gift.
Growing up, I always had these grand plans for my summers--those plans evolved as I did, but it was always felt like a season of opportunity, where anything was possible...a quantum entaglement of sunshine, blue skies, and the promise of ocean breezes. As a professor for many years, I was able to continue this magic to some degree though academics reading this know that summer is also a season of research and writing. :) So yes, I felt lighter, brighter but was working, and often indoors for most of the day. But summer offers longer daylight so even if I worked for ten or so hours a day on a book, I could still enjoy the summer sunshine. And that sunshine is like a kiss from God.
You've probably heard of S.A.D., a seasonal disorder that often affects people who live in places like Alaska, where you can have 24 hours of daylight or 24 hours of darkness. Humans need sunshine. If we don't get it, not only does it affect our bones, but it affects our brains. Chemical imbalances can occur. We need sunshine for at least 15 minutes each and every day. Tanning booths and wearing UV visors only goes so far. That's why summer is such a blessing.
So as we welcome June, I hope you also honor this new week, this new month, by making plans to learn and experience new things with people you love. Round them up, and do fun things you can only get away with doing during the summer season. The ocean calls! And so does the sunshine....
Until next time, dearest readers!