SUMMER

I love summer. I love it for the vibrancy and the bounty of life that summer represents. It’s the best season of the year for me. I grew up in a country where it was just one season all year round, which is summer, so for me I always look forward to summer. I love having the kids home from school, spending time with them, going to the gym or walking outdoors and just taking in the warm air. 

I especially love the fact that I don’t need to dress up in layers!! I always hate having to wear a couple of layers for the winter and bundling up. Summer is definitely my season.

I find that during the summer, I am at my best energy levels as well. I find it easier to loose weight, go to the gym more regularly, eating right or just overall being on a good mood. Perhaps it the longer days and just being out in the sun that tends to bring the best out of me. I also find myself more tolerant of things. It's amazing how the seasons can have an effect on you.

So every season I have my to do’s for the summer. I also like to have a list of to do’s especially now that school is over and the kids are home They are also in such a relaxed mood and we always plan to do something. The one thing that I wanted to do and have not done is to grill. I love to grill for the summer but that has not started yet.

So what is on my personal list of to do's. Well here are some of the things:

• Sit outside and read
• Write while being outdoors
• Have my morning cup of chai outdoors
• Go for biking with my kids
• Eat S'mores
• Have our favorite custard ice cream on weekends and weekdays if possible
• Go the library every week
• Go to the farmers market every Saturday
• Eat fresh fruit, lots of watermelon, peaches and other delicious foods.
• Plan for picnics with friends
• Visit more museums or take my kids somewhere new
• Play outdoors with my kids-soccer, cricket or just run around
• Run outside when it rains. I have never done this before, but would love to this summer.
• Go for a week to the beach and swim in the pool with my kids

Because summer is my favorite season, I make it point to make the most of it. Before we know it summer will be over and kids will be back in school. Also given my energy levels are the highest now, I make every moment count to do things that re-energize my spirit and nourish me. All the things above do.

I also make it a point to be careful about the types of people I mingle with. There are some relatives that honestly just completely drain my energy. I mean my tummy just gets so knotted whenever they are around so I try my best to meet them less. I would rather not meet them at all but they are family. I'll save the story for another time, however, the point is to be around people who are happy just like you and keep your spirit up.

Summer to me means nourishing myself in a way that seems different from other seasons of the year. I mean, I love fall, winter and spring but summer is usually the season I always look forward to and perhaps it's because I grew up in such a hot climate that my body just loves the heat.

 I do nourish myself and take care of me throughout the year, but summer is the time when all of my SELF really shines through. Perhaps I should really work on letting my SELF shine through all seasons and that would be my goal come fall, winter and spring.

A lot of people I know don’t like the summer and prefer another season. I think we all have our seasons. The point is that we make the most of it all the time.  Those of us with kids especially can relate to spending quality time with them for the 2 months that they are out of school and making every moment count.

I recently also wanted to grow my own herbs. Well, it is a little late now since I should have planted the seeds in spring. However, I bought a mint and basil plant and have been taking care of it. I love watering the plants in the morning and seeing it grow. The best part is I love mint and basil so plucking them and adding them to my lunches has given me so much joy.

My daughter has recently got into watering the plants and taking care of it. So for next year I hope to plant them a little earlier so we can enjoy it throughout the summer. The small things do count.

The kids love to sleep in late since they go to bed late. They have no schedule. I don't put my kids in camp all summer and instead prefer to let them just be kids and enjoy the summer. They do go to a couple of 1/2 day camps and a sports camp for 1/2 day but that's it.

I do want them to enjoy the summer and really remember the hot, sweaty days, the nights we make S'mores or just go to the pool. When I was young, we were always home for the school break and back then where I lived there was no concept of camps. So we were just playing outside and having fun.

Summer should be about fun. When I think abut summer, all I think about is planning things that will be fun since you can do so much outdoors. Kids should too get a break so they feel well rested and rejuvenated when they so return to school along with those happy memories.

During the summer months, I love seeing lots of kids outside riding their bikes, talking and playing with each other. It brings the kids so much joy to hang out and just be. Throughout the school year they are always on a schedule so they love it when they can stay up late.

I hope that we all take a little time to really cherish the summer days and nights. A lot of my good memories were always during the summer and I hope to create more for my kids and myself. 

Wish you love my friends!

Peace

Monita