Rest, Relax, Repeat

It is officially summer, yet a different one from my typical. My husband recently took a job with the county and this year I am teaching summer school. We get a 3-day weekend each week and some weeks the county gives us extra-long weekends due to national holidays, elections and other things that merit closing school. Last weekend was a 4-day break, so Nick and I seized the moment and went to the Outer Banks for 4 nights. The beach is my happy place where I completely let go of work and household responsibilities and allow myself to do only the things that make me happy: walk on the beach, do yoga, and meditate each morning, eat seafood, read under a beach umbrella with lots of sunscreen and watch sunsets if weather permits. Rest, relax, repeat.

In my fantasy world, this would be my lifestyle every day. That may not be realistic, but I can try to bring as much of that practice into my daily life as possible. I can take pictures and make memories to draw on during the rainy cold days later in the year. I can recharge my energy reserves with meditation and yoga at home. I can walk almost every day, perhaps not on a sandy beach, but with the same centering intention of observing the sights, sounds and smells I encounter on my journey. It is hard for me to do, but I can choose to let some chores go on weekends or opt for spontaneous fun activities in my time off, even on workdays. I can build vacation activities into my regular life.

Our plan is do to at least a day trip each weekend to make sure we play more and feel like it is summer. This weekend we are going to try a day trip to Virginia Beach with our sons to celebrate our eldest’s birthday. I am pretty sure that even if it rains (thunderstorms are in the forecast), we can get a nice walk and some seafood. Hopefully, there will be time for reading under an umbrella and possibly some body surfing. Seeing the ocean and spending time with my adult sons is enough. I have learned to keep my expectations low and to be open to the adventure that will unfold.

Seeing new places and traveling are part of what makes me feel connected to my inner child. She is a great explorer, with an insatiable desire to see new vistas and experience other cultures. Hopefully, I can satisfy her with small excursions this summer and save the extra money I earn from summer school to pay for a trip farther afield, later in the year.  It is all about balance. Work, earn a little money, rest, relax and repeat. I want to live my best life now instead of always putting it off for the future.