It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, and it's also Monday. Not necessarily mutually exclusive, but today feels good.
It's incredible to me that August is almost done. Time moves faster than I tend to be aware of, but it's often shocking to realize that another month is on its way along with the advent of a new season. I find so many people lament the end of summer with such despair and upset, and I wish there was something I could do to help them look at the change differently.
I love autumn and winter and have never been able to totally understand why people go into such resistance about the colder weather. Certainly, there is the physical discomfort of being cold which is really unpleasant. If you don't have layers or enough warm clothes much less heat for your home, winter is an onslaught. I have a dear friend from Alaska who says, "there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear," and I must say I do agree with her. All of this being said, I don't mind looking like a yeti come winter if that means I'm comfortable. I used to suffer for what I thought was fashion growing up, ie freezing my tail off because I really wanted everyone to see my outfit no matter the weather. That was a tough learning curve - overcoming pride and vanity in order to stay healthy and warm - but one I'm glad to have been through and come out of the other side.
Change isn't always easy, but it's the only constant we'll ever know. Summer will become fall, which turns to winter, which turns to spring and then we're back at summer. Does that mean people will move through the same cycles of thought and being? Not necessarily, but it does point to a prime opportunity to choose differently. If colder weather strikes you with fear, resistance and/or dread, I want to ask you what can you do differently to (literally) weather the blows of seasonal change? How are you willing and able to set yourself up better so that the shift doesn't feel like a personal attack or assault? I realize there are many layers within this, but it's a question I wanted to pose all the same.
Here's to making the most of what we have while we have it. Happy late summer, everyone!