Enjoying the Dog Days of Summer!
Sometimes we complain about how warm it can get here in the valley! But we do know that it is the “dog days” of summer!
Our lethargic and lazy feelings are historically validated by the ancient Egyptians and Romans, as they marked that the dog star Sirius in the constellation Canis Major AND the sun were both heating things up at the same time!
It’s just the part of the normal cycle that we forgot about temporarily this last winter. The ebb and flow of activities, emotions, ideas, decisions are all just part of our summer shift in energy. It’s natural! It’s even healthy!
Let’s give ourselves permission to enjoy it! I have! After all, it is the best way to be in the moment, which is the best time to be in!
(And it’s not all that long before fall and school arrive.)
I love this verbal picture about August, from the author Natalie Babbitt, in her book Tuck Everlasting:
“ The first week of August hangs at the very top of summ
er, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color..”
So… if you are being bugged by your
- to-do list that is still undone,
- lethargy and laziness,
- urge for distractions, any distractions, or
- chatterbox voice in your head that’s berating you for all the above,
then just kick back and take a lesson from your pup,
your kitten,
or your youngster to revel in this brief season!
Life is good, very good, and especially our lives, right now!
Tell us what you are doing to enjoy this gift of the season, this warm and relaxing time of year, before time moves on to fall!
8 Comments
YES! My current favorite thing to do is simply sit out on the deck with my healing dog and doze, or knit, or read. Of course, it’s not nearly so hot here as where you are so there’s less likelihood of our overheating. I sort of figure that the to-do list will still be there when I go back to it.
Oddly, my most recent nap (20 minutes ago!) found me dreaming about running around in the sprinklers as if I were still a little kid. I woke up smiling.
Summer is such a fabulous time to be outside doing….nothing!
OK, there is a little niggling part of me that says I should be doing something productive, but hey, it’s summer, and I can ask that part to be quiet for a bit.
Fay, I’ve always believed that it’s as important to rest as it is to work and as it is to play. I just have trouble getting around to the play part! But I’m good at working and resting, so 2/3’s of the goal is not bad at this point!
On these hot days, I get up early and get in my long walk and take the time to look for a good photo or two with my camera. Then have a bit of time to work on my to-do list. Once done, then it is OK to find a cool place to read a book or take a nap. In the evening we get onto the deck and enjoy the shade as we listen to and watch the birds on the feeder, read the paper, or read more of the book. The heat seems to give us permission to slow down and enjoy more of the day.
Now you do have the time to just watch for something, or listen to the sounds, or have a nice conversation. Slow down and enjoy. Or have a camera handy and look for a good picture to take. You may see or hear something if you have the time to pay attention. Or no attention at all because you are into another nap.
Earl, what a beautiful way to spend our hot summer days! Thanks for sharing yours.
This summer has been so much fun! For the past couple of years we have had more rain and cooler weather, but this year we have had SUMMER! Time has flown by – with the addition of a new granddaughter and a new puppy life has been full of love and fun! It truly is my favorite time of year!
Tish, you seem to be balancing your life well between work and play. I’m so glad we are friends!
Good morning….summer is so much fun when you can take a trip to Priest Lake, Idaho….we spent a weekend there, went out with family to our favorite Kalispell Island, breakfast at Hills Resort, watching our family water skiing….as we did many years ago!
Our son, Steve… had a huge evening gathering at his home (what a party)..music and all! We certainly slept good too! Talk about memories!! Yes, summer has been hot here, we have stayed cool though, still going and doing! Life is wonderful!! Wish we were still working though….would love to see our old friends who ARE working.
Joyce and Jerry, You two make great role models for enjoying life, not letting the issues of the past interfere with your life now!