July, the Busiest Summer Month is Over!

JULY, most Americans love the month of July. It's the month to celebrate Independence Day (4th of July), a time for fireworks, family vacations and picnics at the beach. July, the month when days are long and days carefree. July, when kids are off from school and everything gets crowded from the amusement parks to the restaurants. For some people JULY is extraordinary. There are those that have summer homes on lakes, oceans, or in the mountains. There are those that own yachts and sail the waters. Some people just have a jolly good time in JULY.

How was your July? Did you do anything exciting and fun? As I reflect on summer being half way over, I must admit I'm envious of the people that get to have a thrilling summer full of adventures and good times. I so much wanted to spend my summer away from home, someplace different where it wasn't same old, same old. As we get older, the responsibilities pile up and taking off for several months to work in another country or state or to take a long vacation isn't as simple as it once was. I'm so glad that in the past I was able to spend my summers in different places like Austria, Canada, Maine, Montana, Norway, and Vermont. Nothing ventured, nothing gained has always been my motto so off I go on a train to someplace where I can start a new beginning and leave behind the comfort zone.

Good Bye July! I won't miss all the stresses at work and a few minor body injuries I had during this month but I will miss the long warm days and all the adventures of biking, kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking, swinging in a hammock, swimming, and eating ice cream and watermelon.

So long JULY!

Comments

Starbucks & Debbie

This afternoon I stopped into a Starbucks and asked for a sample of the new "Blond Roast." I was expecting just a tiny cup sample but instead the barista poured me a generous cup of the "Blond Roast" and recommended trying it with a few drops of vanilla syrup which I did. What a beautiful moment it was to enter Starbucks wanting to try the new "Blond Roast" and given a generous sample with kindness and warmth by Debbie the barista. STARBUCKS and its customers are very fortunate to have such a shining star employee as Debbie who brightened my day by greeting me with a big smile and friendly "May I help you?" When I asked for a sample she rewarded me with something I just wasn't expecting. How nice it is to know that every now and then someone can make all the difference in just a few moments. This was the case with the amazing STARBUCKS barista Debbie who deserves high praises for being so awesome. Thank You Starbucks and Thank You D...

The Cows

After attending a lovely morning Christmas service I decided to take a bicycle ride through the countryside. I was on my own and had nobody to spend Christmas with so I just kept paddling on the trail and enjoying the scenery and smell of the fragrant pine trees. When I stumbled across cows in the distance I was ecstatic because I love cows, so I turned my bike around and meandered to the pubic road that led to the farm. When I saw two cows in the meadow my face lighted up with joy. The cows saw me and ran to the fence to greet me. For several minutes they just stood there next to me and made me feel so loved and appreciated. I no longer felt alone on Christmas Day. In moments when we feel so alone how assuring it is to know that there are some living creatures to cheer us up. Those two sweet cows I spent time with on a warm Christmas afternoon were beautiful CHRISTMAS moments. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL LIVING CREATURES!

The Penny

Holding down three jobs and always multi-tasking it felt so good to sit down for a few moments in the backyard the other day. I dreamed of easier times when life was more "carefree." Suddenly I noticed a penny on the ground. It hadn't been there before and my inner voice told me to pick it up. I did and was mesmerized with the year engraved on the penny. That year I was blessed with the best carefree summer of my life and the memories flooded my mind of that sweet summer long ago. That penny gave me hope that my guardian angels knew my pain and distraught and assured me that "moments" of happy times will come again someday. "The penny" was my sign of hope that someday there will be carefree moments again. Believe in those little signs that come into your moments of everyday life.

MINDFUL MOMENTS

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