As summer draws to a close here in the Northern Hemisphere, I feel a familiar sadness and dread creeping in...I love summer—the sunshine, the heat and all the pleasures that come with it: gardening, dining al fresco (the only kind of dining out I’m doing these days) walking, running, and biking, just to name a few.
And ah, 2020...you’re making it even easier for me to cling to my favorite time of year. Yes, the year we’re having is making me wanna hold on tight, because what’s it going to be like when Mother Nature hurls her dark and blustery weather our way with COVID still around? (Remind me, why do I live in the Midwest?)
Sigh...
I resist this seasonal shift each and every trip around the sun, and the inevitable change from summer to fall has been on my mind a lot lately—ever since the summer solstice to be exact. When the days start getting shorter, even if only by seconds, I cue up my sorrow. Maybe if I’m really really melancholy about the end of my favorite season, it will take pity and stick around.
That sounds completely ridiculous, doesn’t it? And yet we do it all of the time.
Perhaps you have your own version of the tune, If Only:
This COVID thing would just go away
Things would go back to normal
So and so gets elected president and everything will be better
I didn’t feel so stressed and worn out at the end of the day
If only, if only, if only…
Look at us - we’re just getting through until If Only happens.
Sounds pretty depressing, doesn't it? And living this way is. Dwelling on the past or pining for the future means we miss the amazing gift of the present moment.
Instead of If Only, what if our tune became What If?
What if:
COVID is here to stay for a while, however I’ve got the inner strength to cope with the challenges
This is the new normal so I take this opportunity to create new ways of connecting with the people I love
Regardless of the political climate, I focus on improving my own life and the lives of my family and community
Instead of chugging down a few glasses of wine every night, I find better ways to unwind and and manage my stress
What if, I live like I already have the life I want
If this month’s message reads a little darker than most, stick with me. The truth is, we never know what’s around the bend...
A practice for living in the moment:
Start each morning with a few words of gratitude.
Look out for statements or thoughts framed in the negative. Reframe them to the positive. Eliminate should and but from your vocabulary.
Notice if your nagging thought originates in the past (regret) or in the future (worry). Simply pausing to observe this brings us back to the present.
And (for yours truly,) soak up every last minute of summer and enjoy the cool, crisp days of autumn when they arrive.
Most importantly, remember that where our attention goes, our energy flows.
Still stuck? Then, let's chat! I’m super excited about my new Ayurveda & You, Self Care Sessions. Learn how yoga’s sister science, Ayurveda, can help you navigate the rough waters of change.
Sign up by Thursday, September 3, and enjoy full membership benefits for the month of September and beyond.
Here’s to feeling your very best,
Lisa