Extended summer leads to extended gratitude

With the recent heatwave, I’ve heard several people lately express a desire for cool weather. Those tired of sweating yearn for days of cozy scarves and pumpkin-spiced lattes. Facebook dialogues compare temperatures in other places, many feeling that the grass is much greener … anywhere, but here.

In terms of actual greenery, they could be right. After all, my lawn is sort of straw-coloured right now. I’m not bothered by this. My dry yard reminds me of those facing far worse in terms of fires, or the opposite problem of flooding.  

Even though it’s unseasonably warm, I welcome this extended summer weather. It encourages me to maintain a bit of “summer mode.” School has started and normally this time of year is filled with both nostalgia and anxiety. Strangely, this year, I have not been overwhelmed by either of these feelings.

When school begins, I’m always reminded that we are all another year older and that my babies are growing up before my eyes. This year, more than ever, this fact has really hit home. Our oldest child is now attending university, our third is beginning high school and now, when we leave the house, we need to grab two driver’s permits rather than a bunch of booster seats. Change is at every turn and yet, rather than feeling tearful, I share the excitement.

When school begins and extra-curricular routines resume, our lives become blurred with activity. I am aware that the pace is accelerating and I am already busy with driving and teaching; yet, I find myself looking forward to the smallest things, such as going for a walks with a family member or planning meals for the freezer.

I am discovering ways to keep the summer feeling alive.  This is a conscious choice, and it is one that I’ve aspired – unsuccessfully - to achieve every year that I can remember. I’m not sure exactly why this year is different. 

Perhaps it’s because our family was blessed with a trip to Italy in August. Travelling with teenagers and a nine-year-old was a wonderful experience.  Everyone could keep up with the activities and miles of walking in the heat; everyone laughed and enjoyed each other’s company in the absence of chores, jobs and friends; everyone enjoyed the food; everyone prayed in churches; everyone was part of the story. We were removed from a normal pace and enjoyed the moments. I’d like to think that this extended summer is a gift from God, reminding us to enjoy the vanishing days of the “summer” of life, with all of our children still living at home.

Perhaps it’s different because I am in the middle of a novena for marriages and families through praymorenovenas.com. The prayers come to my inbox each morning and have really focussed my prayers on my family members and our individual relationships.

Perhaps it’s different this year simply because, like my children, I too am growing older (and I’d like to think a little wiser). Presumably, I have lived more than half of my life and maybe I’m just finally realizing that I have wasted many opportunities, waiting in vain for times of calm to relax and enjoy life.

In his article “The Duty of the Moment,” Sam Guzman states, “… ordinary life can be hard. It can be boring, tedious, and frustrating – most especially when we’d rather be doing something big or extraordinary or fun.”

“The report at work. The flat tire. The bills. The dirty diaper. Taxes. The traffic jam. The annoying and rude person. Screaming kids. Loneliness. Boredom. All of these things are the little duties that God requires of us. They are his will, and we must embrace them as such, not grudgingly, but with zeal and love.” (catholicgentleman.net)

I do not need to do “big or extraordinary” things, like going to Italy.  An extended summer heatwave can take me back to that holiday frame of mind. Recognizing this can make me recognize that ordinary life really is extraordinary.

I’m happy in this moment, and I aim to consciously enjoy the extremes of fall, winter and spring weather, as well.  I may have a brown lawn, but my grass is greener than it’s ever been.