Ahhh, summer.  The special time of year when the kiddos get to be kiddos and play, explore, bask in the sun and heat and all the glory that comes with sleeping in.  It’s admittedly difficult to leave the house every morning without a goodbye hug – their beautiful young minds still resting from staying up a little later the night before.  It’s also, I’ll admit, a little bit of a reprieve as I don’t feel the stress of having to wake them, get them dressed and ready for the bus, while also ensuring I haven’t forgotten any of my own responsibilities before leaving for work.*. It’s a welcome change in routine – at least for now – where we can call take a bit of a break and try life at a different pace.  It’s in that spirit of new routine that I’ve been thinking about just how I plan to make the most out of the next two months.  Yes, I need to still get to work everyday, but that doesn’t mean I can’t shift how I structure my week, and my mindset.

*I’d like to be clear here that Alison does a ton in the morning to get them ready, so I am not taking credit for the whole routine. I am merely only one-half of a supporting unit that struggles to make sure they get out the door on time.

A few things have already taken shape as of this writing;  baseball season is in full swing, the bikes have come down from the rack, the trampoline doesn’t go a day without use, and the river tubes have taken their first trips down The Grand.  We’ve dug out the bins full of balls, gloves, chalk. ropes and games, and aer enjoying the rediscovery of all the great things that warm weather brings.  I’ve also, thanks to the encouragement and inspiration of my lovely bride, wiped the dust off my yoga mat to enjoy a new Saturday ritual together (weather pending today, it seems…).

Elora is great for so many wonderful things.  Tourist traffic and downtown politics aside, we have truly felt like we’re now part of a community here.  We have become familiar faces in the places that matter most to us, and the girls are right there alongside us.  From the library to the bookstore, and the arts centre to the ice cream store, we wave our friendly hellos, catch up in fine conversation and share stories with the kindest of folks who no longer can we call strangers.  Nowhere truer does this feeling of community strike than at the farmers market – a gathering spot for anyone interested in truly supporting local.  The art, the food, the music, and the air itself bring out a true feeling of joy and togetherness.  To top off that already wonderful feeling, just behind the market sits a wide-open green space, outlined by tall, swaying trees and the nearby sounds of a waterfall.  And every Saturday within that green space people gather to take part in their practice of mind and body – yogis of all ages and skill level, including this stiff as a board 45-year old man.

I’ve had my stints of Yoga in the past – classes, at home, and throughout travels, and I 100% believe in its benefits, yet for some reason I don’t fit it into my regular routine.  For whatever reasons that might be, I do enjoy it when I practice, but I have to say that starting my Saturday last week in that particular setting, with the sky blue sky and the sounds of a market busker playing Hallelujah in the background, a new bar was set for how I would approach this particular summer.

It may not typically be seen as the time of year where parents get to reset, at least not the same way that students do.  But why not?  Taking these two months to slow down can only do good for all of us.  Work and responsibility will always be there, in fact there will always be more of it.  That’s how our society is wired: more, more, more.  But to what end?  At least for me, I will say that working more hours or doing more chores isn’t going to get me more time for the things I truly love doing.  So, perhaps those things can wait a little bit.

I have spoken many times about the stresses of life, and how I try with purpose to find the harmony.  Well, this summer I am aiming to up my game on such endeavours.  Whether it be yoga in the park, personal goal settings, or blocking my calendar to take walking breaks throughout my day, I am making concerted efforts to create a mindset centred on me and my personal well-being.  I am looking at my goals a little differently.  I am beginning to appreciate that my ambitions for future don’t need to start with an all-or-nothing leap.  They can start on a Saturday.

My goals don’t represent an escape from where I am – they represent the life I want to live. I’m not building a means to escape work. I’m building a life where work supports the things that matter most.  

My goal is not a destination, it is a direction, and today that direction is simply to keep moving – one Saturday at a time.

Summer won’t last forever.  But perhaps the habits we build during it can.