Friday was the Summer Solstice. It was also my birthday. I wondered what they have in common. The solstice marks the longest day in the year for the Northern Hemisphere, the twenty-four hour period where there is the most daylight. In America, it usually marks the first day of summer. It is a time to celebrate the light within each one of us. It reminds us to look inward and find the nourishment we need to continue to grow. We are able to pause and let the energy planted in the Spring reach full bloom. It requires patience. We learn to develop trust and believe in ourselves. It is time to nurture who we are and look at our purpose. It is also a time to nurture others on our journey. There is more time during the daylight to work & play, to look at our intentions, to nourish ourselves and be patient with all that is to come. It is a time to be open to new experiences. It is a time to be grateful for what we already have. To sit on the beach and meditate, to stay up to see the fireflies. My husband and I often go to the Lake Erie shore at sunset and watch the sun go down, listening to the waves, taking time to soak in all the beauty in front of us. Spend some time each week feeling the warmth of the season, savoring the beauty of the day. Each one brings us new wonders to appreciate, lessons to be learned, and time to live life to its fullest.
So back to my birthday. This was a year that doesn’t end in a 0 or 5 - just another year. But it was so much more. As much as I joke that I don’t celebrate birthdays anymore, or that I’m 39 again, I celebrate that I am here, that I am healthy, that I am surrounded by people I love. My husband planned a cookout on our deck for a few of our children and grandchildren. The sun shone during dinner, and then a storm came in before dessert. We were able to clear the table and get inside as the deluge started. We laughed and were thankful the rain held off as long as it did. It was a wonderful solstice day - a time to nurture myself as I enjoyed being with part of my family and hearing from those who couldn’t be with us. I am ready for the year to come - with all the ups and downs it will bring. The solstice reminds me of all that is yet to come, and helps me remember there will be sunny days and rainy days to appreciate.
Happy summer to all of you. Consider stretching in the next months to find the beauty in the season, to be patient with yourself and others, and to savor the changes summer brings.
