It’s almost August. For several years now I have taken the month of August off to recharge. So no blogs from me until September 6th. I plan to take full advantage of the season; attend some theater performances, some concerts, go on hikes, attend farmer’s markets, finally visit Canada for the first time in I don’t know how long, and maybe try out a zipline. Of course, there is also the garden, and time to harvest apples, berries, cherries, tomatoes and more. And attend family gatherings. The month will be full and pass by all too quickly.
I leave you with two things on my mind to mull over during the next month. The first came to me after listening to Glennon Doyle earlier. She is fearless and so articulate! Maybe fearless is the wrong word. She dares to be honest, that’s more like it. I will be reflecting on the courage to be honest with myself about what I am really feeling. By this, I mean feeling about anything that makes me stop and notice. It’s not easy. It’s much easier to gloss over, distract myself, or point my finger in blame for my feelings. It’s harder to examine and admit my own feelings sometimes. I have learned that only when I know and understand myself, am I clear and able to be more tolerant of others.
The other thing on my mind is the realization, made crystal clear by fires, floods and heatwaves, of our total dependence and connection to our planet. As the evidence of climate change becomes obvious, I’m reminding myself that the air we need to breathe, the water to drink and bathe, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the shelter we need, our fuel, everything is a product of our planet earth. Time to be mindful and care-full and act accordingly.
And a fun challenge. Seize the day! It’s summertime. I hope you are healthy and vaccinated so you can take advantage of the season. Before COVID I would often say to myself after thinking about something fun or meaningful to do, I’d like to do that, SOMETIME. Now, I think, sometime is NOW! Don’t put things off, don’t take your time for granted. Have some fun, being careful of your health, of course. Signing off until September.