Now that June is behind us and the 4th of July has been celebrated, we find ourselves in the dog days of summer.
The days are still long, but they’ve grown hot, dry or humid, depending on where you live. There is still the promise of ease, perhaps a more relaxed schedule, a family vacation. Or maybe, despite the summer season, you find yourself working frenetically to meet the demands of your job while the kids are in the middle of a long summer break. Are you stretched between two places and feeling guilty that you aren’t giving either the attention you’d hoped?
In June, the promise of summer lies right at our finger tips. I told a friend recently that I wished I could bottle June and spread it out over 3 months, and then ease into July and August --all of this before autumn when we hit the ground running.
So, what is this thing I’m yearning for? Is it just about slowing down? Not being bound by a schedule? Is it about shedding some responsibilities?
Recently, I did an “energy” check-in with myself to see how things were going. I wanted to take notice of what was energizing me and what was taking my energy away.
Immediately, I noticed that cooking meals in a hot kitchen in the summer was zapping my energy. So, we are now making more salads, snacking on healthy appetizers and sipping iced drinks on the porch in the evening. I also noticed my “To Do” list had tasks like filing old receipts, cleaning out a cluttered closet, and touching up some kitchen trim—all things that can be done when the weather is colder and the days are shorter. So, I took that list and put it away where I don’t have to look at it.
When there is more light in the day, I find myself more energized and drawn to the outdoors. To my garden. To the back porch. To a trail in the forest. There is something satisfying about being physical again. Breathing fresh air. Feeling the sun on my skin. Wearing my hair in a ponytail. For me, it’s a time to give my mind a rest, take some time away from the office, reconnect with family and friends, and to slow down and become intentional about doing things that give me energy.
So, what about you? How is your summer energy? On a scale from 1-10 where is your energy today? Notice where you are spending it and notice where you are longing to spend it.
We are now in the dog days. The sultry part of summer. The ancient Romans called the hottest, most humid days of summer “dog days” because they associated the summer heat with the presence of the star, Sirius. Sirius was known as the “Dog Star” because it was the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (Large Dog).
So, what will you do with your “dog days” of summer? It’s never too late to stake a claim for what we are yearning for, in the sultry part of summer or during a cold winter. But for now, the days are longer and the promise of summer is right here in front of us and alongside of us-- waiting for us. Beckoning us to take it all in.
--Dawn
