In the Middle of It

The calendar says we’re at or beyond summer vacation’s half-way point. This is the perfect season to add balance back into our lives by relaxing, taking up new activities, or enrolling in classes and learning something new. Summer is the time to push forward and shore up areas we’ve neglected. You’ll be fascinated by how people spend their summers, Take a look:   

                                         https://youtu.be/4x70J9lj4Bc

The father who spoke probably has kids who thought they’d spend the summer playing Paintball and Capture the Flag, as you can see, camp counselors had other activities in mind. Fun, combined with purposeful activity, keeps us moving in the right direction. Our bodies crave balance and we can feel off-kilter when we forget to nourish our minds, bodies, and souls. Now’s a great time to reassess our sense of wholeness. What do you do to stay centered?      

Beauty During the Storm

I don’t like the beach. Maybe I’m overdramatizing my dislike for the annoying sand that invades every nook and cranny. After a trip to the shore, you’ll find sand in your car, tucked into the fibers of your swim suit, and lurking in the bottom of your beach bag. It takes forever to clean up.

But during a recent vacation, I spent a surprisingly pleasant day at Daytona Beach. When a storm blew in, I marveled at how the angry, slate-colored sky met the placid, green water at the horizon. When the downpour drenched our swimsuits, we scurried to safety beneath a bridge until the storm passed, and within minutes, we were back in the ocean.

The water was my silver lining. Normally, the ocean offers an unending series of waves, and with the approaching storm, I expected rough surfs. On this particular afternoon, the water was calm and clear enough to see the little fish that occasionally leaped into the air. If you look closely, you’ll spot the silver lining in most situations, like this one:  

                                     https://youtu.be/kwMXEPGFc14

Although the news bombards us with videos and updates on the latest horrors from here and abroad, even Anne Frank learned not to think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remained. If she could focus on beauty, we can, too. In these turbulent times, what’s your silver lining?