As Phineas and Ferb say:
There’s 104 days of summer vacation
And school comes along just to end it
So the annual problem for our generation
Is finding a good way to spend it…
Yes, it has been a long time since I’ve been in school and had a “summer vacation”, but I have always loved summer. For as long as I can remember I’ve always felt better in the summer. I hurt less, and I just want to get out and do more. Longer Days and Warmer Nights…life is good.
The challenges of Summer?
- I over do it because I feel better, then I pay for it!
- I get over heated easily and don’t realize it because I love hot weather. (although we lived in Palm Springs, CA for a while…it was too hot there!)
- I over extend myself. I have a hard time saying “No”, I seem to think I can do anything during this time of year.
- I often end up eating things I shouldn’t, and get sick. (I just don’t plan well.)
- Again, I get too hot before I realize it!
How I can over come these challenges?
- Well, this should be easy, just do less! However, it’s often hard to tell when I might be over doing it. I guess my best option here is to pay more attention to what my body is telling me. And REST OFTEN.
- Limit the amount time I spend in the heat. Don’t just trust that I can tell when I get too hot, or thirsty. Set a time limit, and stick to it. And DRINK A LOT of water!
- I need to remember, I can only do so much! And sometimes, I can’t do anything. I feel guilty when I tell people I will be somewhere and then I can’t show up. I need to tell more people either, “No.” Or “Maybe.” If people don’t understand, then do I really want to be doing anything with them?
- Since I have gluten and fructose intolerance, there are a lot of things I can’t eat. Too often I go out and don’t realize we may not be home when I get hungry. I must plan better for this. Make sure there will be food I can eat at parties. The easiest way to do this is to bring something. When we are going out and about I need to make sure we will be near places I can eat, or keep food with me. I used to carry protein bars in my purse that were gluten free so I’d always have something. Now, it’s more difficult. I haven’t found a protein bar that doesn’t have things I can’t have because of the fructose. I must find something!!
- I used to never get over heated. I have a convertible, and I love to drive and feel the heat, and wind. On Wednesday, I was on my way home and got stopped due to road work. I was sitting still for about 20 minutes. When I got home I felt sick, and dizzy. I got way too hot. How can I prevent this? I have to keep WATER with me. Not soda, WATER! If I get stuck in traffic, I need put the top up and turn on the AC.
What do I want to accomplish this summer?
- Complete all the requirements for becoming a licensed foster parent.
- Perhaps take a vacation…something we haven’t done in a very long time. Even a long weekend would be nice. But traveling scares me…I’ll have to be prepared. And we really don’t want to leave our dog.
- Take care of me. (read *pamper* here)
- Read more books. I really don’t know if this is possible, but I’ll give it a go. (I love to read!)
- Enjoy my birthday! (July 2nd)
- Spend time with hubby. (I don’t really care what we do, just as long as we do it together.)
- Enjoy my pets. Especially Sandy, on July 2010, the vet told us that Sandy had 6 months to a year to live. I don’t think anyone told her!
- Enjoy driving. (something I haven’t been able to do much for the last 2 years.)
- Enjoy our garden! This is the first year we’ve tried growing a vegetable garden. I keep looking at a friend’s garden and think…”Wow, why does their garden look so much better than mine?” Oh yeah, they aren’t using all organic practices. Let’s just say I now understand why organic produce cost so much more.
No matter what your plans for the summer, be sure to take care of yourself. Keep things close to you that make you feel good. For example: I take a bath every night right before I go to bed. It really helps me get to sleep, feel more relaxed, and hurt much less. I put lotion on every night, often my husband puts special peppermint lotion on my feet. (My feet get hot at night and the peppermint makes them feel cool.)
Spend time with people who are good for you. Avoid people who are toxic. (you know who they are, you may feel like you have to spend time with them for some reason or another, maybe they are family, but you don’t. Just say “NO”. You can do it. I know you can.)
Enjoy yourself. That’s the most important thing. Find ways to make your life easier, and more enjoyable.
Then pass it on. Let other’s know what secrets you have found that make you feel better.
What’s your plans for the Summer?
Picnic with Ants 
sounds like you have a great summer planned. we like to vacation at holden beach. you can rent homes there that allow pets. great family beach. we love it but not sure if we can make it this year or not yet. you have to rent them by the week though in the summer. but you could probably do something similar with a cabin in the mountains for a weekend and take sandy with you. am i making any sense?? 🙂
you have the same birthday as my dad! happy early birthday!!
my husband planted a garden this year. it’s his (our) first. it’s doing really well and i’m shocked at how much i like having it. i didn’t think i’d notice the difference but i do and it’s early yet. my kids really like it too especially my son who who eat anything.
great post. i should probably try to make some plans for my summer as well because before i know it, it’ll be over.
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Hey, my birthday is in July too! On the 10th 🙂 I too will make sure I enjoy it. Great idea for making a summer plan. I’m going to do that too, rather than just let it get a way from me. First on the list though is to organize the garage…its driving me crazy! I would like to read some books too and get a tan! (I know its bad for me, but it makes you look so healthy!) My garden seems to be dong great without me these days but I do need to add some mulch and do some serious weeding around back! I want to visit Wasaga Beach, golf at least once a week and strip the wall paper in my laundry room and paint it a beautiful, light periwinkle. Now that I think of it, I should do that first! Of course getting the bppv taken care of will help me with the looking up of stripping wall paper! 🙂
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Oh yes, I forgot I bought paint for my laundry room. I should get to that. I bought 2 different cans of paint from the mixed up paint bin. One is a neat blue, the other is a bright green. One will paint a wall in the upstairs den, and the other the laundry room, just not too sure which I’ll put where. : )
I’m starting to get a bit of a tan now that I have a convertible, but it’s a bit strange. My arms, a little on my face, but not a lot because I wear a hat, and an area above my knees to where my shorts go. So funny. I’ll have to figure that out.
Unfortunately, our garden isn’t doing as well as I’d hoped. It is growing slow, and just doesn’t look like it’s going to do much. Hey, a first try, we are learning.
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Sounds like good summer-plans! Here in Sweden we have such a short summer so I think it´s easy to get really stressed about all the things you want to do these few weeks. I think my plans look like this!
– Listen to the radio every day, a program 1,5 hours when famous and not so famous people talk about there lifes and plays the music they like.
– Swim every morning before breakfast togeather with my dog in our pool. (While not having the opportunity to go away from home while I was so ill we decided to move the “vacation-area” to our house!)
-Take long walks with my dog, as long as possible that day.
-Enjoy having all the kids at home and making them dinner every day!
– Enjoy my garden, smelling the honeyrose, jasmine, and soon I can smell theflowers of the old limetrees/linden we have in the garden.
I think that having been so ill before makes me enjoy little things. Today I can appreciate my big family or just being with my husband. Thank you Wendy for you sharing and making me think about my summerplans, and how good life is!!!
Yours
Susanna
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