“One must maintain a little bittle of summer, even in the middle of winter.” ~Henry David Thoreau
Dear Universe,
It’s hard to believe summer is coming to an end.
But it’s true! The proof is all around me! The sun is setting earlier. The temperature is dipping lower and lower at night. And yesterday I saw parents moving their kids into college dorms—suitcases, smiles and tears all in abundance.
Without planning on it, I seem to have been cramming in some final summer days, spending as much time in the sun, with family and friends.
This past weekend I got outside and remembered just why I live for summertime.
One day it was enjoying drinks, food and live music—right on the beach—on the kind of day you think only exists in fairy tales or movies.
The next afternoon it was lunch on a cliff overlooking the ocean. With the view in front of me, I felt like I had been whisked away to Europe, not thirty minutes from home. After lunch, I enjoyed a leisurely stroll (ice cream cone in hand) on cobblestone streets where fresh fish stands and yachts were the backdrop.
How did I get so lucky? I simply said yes when I was asked to go.
How can all this be at my fingertips and yet it took me all summer to take advantage of these experiences? I can’t believe I wasn’t doing more of this every day! It made me sad to think about how I will have to wait until next summer to enjoy all these sunscreen and sunglass excursions.
Unless…
Maybe it’s crazy, but maybe I don’t need to wait another ten months for these outings.
If being by the water or at the beach can bring me so much bliss, maybe I need to make these moments mandatory no matter the season. I used to be so much better about this. I think I had forgotten about how much I loved being by the ocean, no matter the month.
“Some rules are nothing but old habits that people are afraid to change.” ~Therese Anne Fowler
Sure. When it’s cold, or I’m tired, or work is piling up, these are valid reasons to stay home and stay warm.
But really the only rules and restrictions holding me back are the ones I’ve created.
And…
Maybe sometimes, just sometimes, it’s okay to break the rules—especially the ones I have for no good reason—especially when it comes to the feel of the beach breeze, the sound of the waves crashing down on the shore and the utter feeling of relaxation that washes over me.
That is something priceless, something I don’t want to wait months and months for.
Thank you for the reminder that happiness, peace and joy can come at any time if I simply go with the flow and allow it.
With Gratitude,
A
