July dawns as the realization sinks in that 2023 is officially half over!! I’ve long had the practice of looking back at this time of year on January goals and taking inventory of what I’ve seen to, what still has to be seen to, and what I’ll simply forego realistically.

July often catches me by surprise even at 74!! You’d think I’d be well aware that the slow pace of June doesn’t last. Those misty June mornings in the garden seeing blooms that weren’t there yesterday, always trick me into believing that mild, balmy temps are here forever. Then comes as invitation to a July 4th picnic, and just like that it seems Mrs. Sultry and her children, Hazy, Hot and Humid take over along with a quickened tempo! Just when I’m believing that the snail’s rhythm of May~June is the perfect way to live, July words start to appear everywhere: MIDSUMMER!! SCHOOL STARTS IN 7 WEEKS!! SUMMER CLEARANCE SALES!! PUMPKINS ARRIVING SOON!!

WHOA!! I want to stop the world and get off! I question this threatening madness jut enough until that still, tiny Voice reminds me: “Christine…only the secular, materialistic world turns the calendar page to July and panics!!” “Not YOU………YOU don’t have to tune into this nonsense at all!!”

Ah!! Okay!! I re-welcome July then and come to appreciate the wisdom of doing what absolutely has to get done in the cooler, early morning, leaving the less strenuous things for the muggy afternoons. And, of course, I refocus on looking forward to time away at the seashore, reading summer books, gathering fresh produce from backyard raised beds or farmers’ markets, and baseball games, and fireworks, and sunsets and ice cream: THOSE are July words too!!

Savor them all with me, whether you are re-engaged (retired) as I am, or still working full time. Like all the eleven other months, July appears and offers us all two choices: give in to the materialistic, frantic pace that robs us of the season we are in, by pushing the next one on us way too soon. OR…listen to another Voice that reminds us it’s ONLY July……………LISTEN for the crickets, make time to SEE, really see a sunset from beginning to end…rub some lemon verbena leaves and SMELL that citrusy scent….let yourself FEEL wet, shifting beach sand between your toes.

The real surprise of July??? All that it offes doesn’t last forever! Live it as fully as you can…and PLEASE don’t miss IT!!