Summertime Blues

Who else out there has the summertime blues this summer? We've had strange weather patterns (all over the country) and just about everyone I know has had allergies or some kind of respiratory illness that won't go away. All this moisture in the air is causing mold in the environment and irritating lungs all over.

I think about the brides that have been planning their weddings for months and months to now have to bite those once perfect nails when their big day approaches. "Will it rain?" I have a wedding photographer friend who probably had a lot of challenges with photos during the very wet month of June.

But there are always things to be happy about. The beach. Smiling and laughing children. Dogs wagging tails. Yoga. A good night's sleep. These are things that make me smile and glow. It's important to find the silver lining or gleam of sun through the clouds each day. Just like I ask my students to thank themselves every day, I take a moment with my family every day to pick something I'm thankful for (we all do). It makes the day seem brighter, no matter how dark, dreary or depressing it was.

I was recently invited to a Facebook quiz that asked me if I would prefer a life of peace and quiet. It was a silly quiz in all other aspects, but I really took pause at this question and realized that peace and quiet was fine after I die--MAYBE--but here, I want to have challenge and excitement. As hard as it is, it's important for us to celebrate the darker shades we experience in life, if only to enjoy the bright moments that much more. If it were all peace and daisies, we'd be pretty bored. No struggle, no motivation. No motivation, no growth. No growth...what's the point? At least that's how I feel about it. Enjoy the day. Enjoy your life and all the people in it.

Please feel free to share your opinions and comments.