What? Did you just say it's the END OF MAY? Wow!
Memorial Day has come and gone, a sure-fire signal of "game on" for summer. Time flies, we know this. Think of all the references to "time" you hear even just in a day! Time, there's never quite enough of it (and yet there is!). Sometimes I wish I could just press "pause" and freeze things as they are, and get all those "to-do's" done and savor moments even longer--and then, when I'm good and ready, I'll press "start" with ease and grace and just float around light as a feather enjoying the "not-doing", "non-listing of life!"
Though I cannot press "pause", I do try and take the time to enjoy life's magical moments; because let's face it, life is more than just a long to-do list. Time is sort of like expanding highways, even if we got more of it, we would still find endless things to fill it up. So, hopefully we make the most of the time we DO have and find peace in the being, not doing all the time. What other choice do we have?
The end of May always invokes memories of the school year coming to a close, the bright awakening of summer, the exciting playful outdoor freedom ahead. I am reminded to enjoy the fruits of my labor and to revel in the juicy farmers markets bursting with colors and flavors. Something about the promise of the coming months ahead makes every day lighter and more hopeful.
Time to shed layers, bask in the sunshine of longer days, enjoy adventure and relaxation. Dense root vegetables and heavy cold-weather foods lose their appeal and the produce of the season facilitates our natural detox mechanisms, keeping us cooler during the summer months. The time is NOW to stop, notice, and find things you're feeling good about no matter what.
In honor of all of us who live life fully and don't have time to read lots of pages on "things to do to improve our health" how about a few quickies here? Its time to transition from spring to summer, and I have a few quick tips below for a smooth transition!
Some fun tips for enjoying this lovely warm weather:
- Get Dirty! Getting dirty can be exposure to common bacteria, and common bacteria are good for you. When they routinely inhabit our bodies, they can produce vitamins and proteins we need and help make our immune and gastrointestinal systems work. That's why kids love to play in the dirt, right
- Check out community-supported agriculture. When you sign-up for weekly deliveries or pickups, you get access to seasonal produce, flowers, and eggs, while local farmers get a guaranteed income base. Most seasons run from late spring through early fall. Visit http://www.localharvest.org/csa/ to find the CSA program near you.
- Take a walk!Not only will it give you a chance to stop and smell the daffodils, a walk will also get you away from your desk and provide that moderate exercise doctors keep recommending.
- Choose your flip-flops wisely! While convenient, they're flimsy, making wearers more susceptible to injuries like stubbed toes, rolled or sprained ankles, tendonitis, blistering, arch pain, and stress fractures. If you have to let your toes out, get some flip-flops with support. Your whole body will thank you!
