A few years ago, I wrote a blog post that I titled, “Stop the Glorification of Summer.” You can read that here.
It still applies. I see my dentist every winter and summer; without fail, he will ask me in the summer, “So, have any plans for the summer?” No one asks that in the winter.
There is an increasing amount of pressure, especially if you are a parent, to “enjoy every moment.” Now that my kids are school-age, I feel it too. How can we squeeze it all in? How can we make the most of this? I saw an article on social a while back reminding parents, “You only have 18 summers.” Okay, stop. We know.
Since the beginning of July, someone in my home has been sick with…something (everything- pick a virus). Many of our summer plans have been canceled. If this happened in the winter, no doubt, we’d be stir crazy. But, we likely wouldn’t feel the pressure to find time for every *fun* activity.
A good reframe is in order— summer is not your only season. Maybe you hate summer and you are counting down the days until your PSL is available at Starbucks. There is nothing magical about summer. You have not missed it. You have to take some pressure of yourself so you can truly enjoy what is around you. No need to invite in any (extra) anxiety.
So, think: what are you looking forward to about fall? About winter? What is important to you about the summer? Pay attention to the season you are in.
I guarantee you my dentist will not ask me next winter what my “winter plans are,” but maybe I’ll ask him!