Welcome to Summer!

It’s  the first morning of summer break and I’ll be honest, I don’t quite know what to do with myself. Ever had that feeling? It reminds me of the post-performance let down from my dancing days. I have a busy summer ahead filled with connecting with friends and family, travel and of course, lots of reading and writing. But right now, I am at a bit of a loss.  What to do with the freedom of time? 

In some ways this feels like January 1. I feel that I should reflect on the school year. My natural inclination is to grab a sheet of paper and make a “to do” list. Like many of you, I spend so much of my time “doing” instead of “being”. So I will resist that temptation, reject the word “should” and enjoy the moment. 

So just like I set an intention for a new calendar year by selecting one little work (OLW), today I selected a word for the summer: Savor. I want to Savor this summer. To savor food means to enjoy it and experience it slowly. That is my intention for this summer; to slow down, be present and feel gratitude for each moment. 

How will I savor my summer? Perhaps by experiencing life through my senses. I turn to Gretchen Rubins for inspiration and will “relisten” to her book, LIfe in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of my Head and Into the World.  As I sit here on my couch, I draw my attention to the taste of my coffee, which needs to be reheated, the hum of the refrigerator and chirp of the occasional bird outside, the comfortable fabric of my pajamas, and the sight of my fingers moving across the keyboard as I write these words. Like anything else, living life through your senses is a practice. It takes time to make it a habit and lucky for me, I have the time to form habits that can carry me into the new school year. But for now, I am here savoring the first day of my two month vacation. 

So teachers, whether this is your first day of break or your fourth week, may you savor each moment.