I started to title this blog “Mid-summer” until I realized (thanks, Google) that mid-summer is an Olde English term referencing the summer solstice festival in June. The midpoint of summer is more towards the first week in August. Again, it depends on when you consider summer to begin; do you go by the astrological date, the meteorological date, the Farmer’s Almanac date? Whichever way, I’m acknowledging that summer is almost half over (I’m claiming the midpoint is August 1). Now is a good time to check on my summer possibilities to re-boost some energy into these dog-days’ of summer.
Oh dear. The dog days of summer are both earlier and longer than I thought. (Thanks again, Google) The dog days are July 3rd through August 11th and are characterized by the hot and humid weather we experience in the Northern Hemisphere at this time of year. The term comes from the ancient Greeks and Romans, who noticed that the brightest star in the constellation Canis (dog) Major, Sirius, rose and set with the sun around this time of year. The term “dog days” entered the English language in the 1500s and are the 20 days prior and 20 days after the star Sirius rises and falls in conjunction with the sun.
So, the dog days of summer are almost over, but I can still boost energy for some end of summer planning. Hence a mid-point review!
Summer 2024 was all about enjoying dabbling at crafts and my garden, continuing my regular cardio drumming, and doing a summer study on local plants. I wanted to check out a few local food & ice cream places I haven’t tried yet, do my regular full moon shelling walk and new moon tarot read, read the books for my book clubs, and attend lunches planned by the Garden Club. The biggie was also supporting hubby’s knee replacement surgery recovery (yes, it’s his new T-shirt in the header photo). There was a hoped-for afternoon of summer cocktails in a friend’s pool, a ride out on someone’s boat, a museum afternoon, and a day trip to a new beach. A definite homebody kind of summer was my plan!
So how is it going? I added my “I Did It List” tool, which has helped me celebrate my life. Link here and here to a couple of blogs about using that tool. But I find I still have too many mornings, as I sit with my coffee looking out on the water and contemplate writing in my journal, that I ask myself, what did I do yesterday? And my inner voice answer is, I didn’t do enough! Sometimes I even struggle recalling what I did the day before at all. How did I fill those hours between morning coffee and getting into bed? Did I get enough done? Anything done? I’ve explored more “being and less doing” – blog post here – but I am realizing I am a Doing-addict! Doing is equivalent to having personal value.
Have I spent time being? Being peaceful and calm, compassionate, patient, and appreciative? Not every day, but yes, sometimes. Have I done things that are fun, relaxing, enjoyable? Yes! I will keep working on not being so tied to the doing for my sense of self.
That said, I do need to plan some end of summer things like eating out at local food & ice cream places. What, no ice cream places this summer yet? Nope. And the museum afternoon can be booked as hubby’s knee replacement recovery is going well. I also need to reenergize on my summer study on local plants, pick something to do from my crafting list, plan my birthday celebration (the last of the dog days apparently!), and maybe plan another day trip somewhere.
While we are doing no travel this summer (seems everyone else is!) and spending a lot of time indoors with the oppressive heat & humidity plus daily thunderstorms, it’s been a good summer so far.
How is your summer going? Any plans for the end of summer?
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Ah, the dog days of summer! Enjoying them right now camping. This is definitely not mid summer for us here but rather towards the end. It’s been a good summer on many levels. Lots of doing that’s for certain. I love hubby’s t-shirt as I spent many years helping install those after-market parts (and still miss it).
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Summer still going strong here. I’m not sure when we will cool off this year; it’s been a challenging heat season for me.
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Sorry to hear that Pat. We meet 2 couples in the Yukon from Florida. They live there for 6 months of the year and travel for the other 6 months (obviously wealthy and don’t have a lot of commitments that make it easy to be a rolling stone). I bet you can guess which months they leave in!
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Florida has the “snow birds” who live most of the time up north somewhere (even Canada) and “fly south” when the “snows come”. They begin to arrive in September, but the bulk come in December. All are gone by May. Then there are the heat-avoiders, who pack up and leave in June orJuly and head north to avoid the heat. Sometimes in an RV, sometimes to a “camp” in the woods somewhere cooler. They are usually back by end of September. It does make summer the “slow time” here; we’ve not had to worry about traffic or getting into a restaurant in months!
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You’ve taught me something! I don’t think I actually knew that the “dog days of summer” was an actual thing. I just figured it was an expression only. We are saving our big trip for October (a visit to Washington, DC). So with an exception of an overnight to Vero Beach next month, we’re staying close to home. So hot lately! Stay cool…. – Marty
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Marty, the Dog Days being real was new to me as well. I would have sworn it was referencing mid-August, too. I love learning new tidbits!
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I’m pleased that things are going as well as they are for you and your husband. You get to a certain age and the challenges need to be met together more than when you’re younger. Or at least that’s been our case. My summer has been hot and humid, THEN wham cooler than usual. I usually can put my capris and long sleeve t-shirts aside at this time of year, but not in 2024! Not complaining exactly, just noting.
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Ally, What… Cool weather?!? Sigh. I wish. I’m kinda happy we have the Olympics to watch all day as we stay inside avoiding the oppressive heat and all day threat of thunderstorms that seems to be the norm right now here.
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I think that “do-ing addiction is tied to working full time at a good pace for many years. At least, that’s my excuse!
My husband is in full-swing of his retirement (still has to cover daily drop bys and sometimes more of additions being built) and loving every moment.
I promised to take Fridays off – I managed last Friday so far 😂, but in my defense we went away for 6 days right after the 4th of July and the week prior, our assistant was on vacation. I’m trying!
As always, I will check out your links!
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Doing is possible an addiction, definitely a habit, and the acceptable (expected) behavior. I can tell you, my last years working, I took off Friday’s all summer and really loved having a long weekend. Maybe plan some doing just for you on those Friday’s to make them happen as a start.
I can tell you that this weekend, we spent hours watching Olympic sports we had no idea about! Fencing? Rugby? Had a blast. Not really being, but not productive doing either. And we will be doing that all week!
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Hi Pat – glad to hear that recovery from knee surgery is going well for your husband – and I love his tee shirt. I seem to be a lot less tied to “doing” than others are, I find that whole days go by when I’ve done very little that would be deemed as “worthwhile” by the do-ers……and I’ve become okay with that. I think it took me until my second go at retirement to accept that I like this slower pace and I like having a smattering of things to do balanced by a large helping of leisure. I’ve come to see that nobody really cares whether I’m out saving the planet or at home drinking coffee and reading a novel – so I choose to do what feels right for me each day. Your summer plans seem to be reasonably flexible and full of little interests – I think that sounds pretty good in the grand scheme of retired life. 🙂
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Leanne, I chuckled at your comment about nobody really caring you’re not saving the planet! I’m trying hard to not let the “I did nothing yesterday” feeling get me down. To allow myself to be happy if I spend the whole afternoon reading a novel. Or watch Olympics coverage for hours… which is happening these days. We’re having fun watching sports we have no clue about! Nothing productive in that except enjoyment!
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