Please Ditch the Pumpkins; It’s Still August!

Why do we always have to be in such a rush? To all retailers, “Please ditch the pumpkins; it’s still August.” We are in the middle of summer, people! Okay, I feel better already.

Do you find this as annoying as I do? I get it that people like to get a jump on decorating, but it’s just too early to be promoting fall. I love good pumpkin bread and am a proponent of large mums. However, I want to enjoy the season I am in right now.

All this rushing is not good for us! We only get one life, so let’s figure out how to embrace all of our experiences and enjoy ourselves.

Since it is Still August

I will be floating in my pool daily and going to the beach every weekend. I am putting my blinders on the next time I have to go to a store that’s already basking in orange hues. We are in a heat advisory in New York City/Long Island right now. It is definitely STILL summer.

Speaking of summer, how is your summer bucket list coming along? I still have a few things I need to schedule that I am looking forward to (another reason why I’m not ready for fall). Everything seems too fleeting these days-I wish I had a pause button.

Do You Live in the Present?

Has anyone ever told you it was time you learned how to be present? It seems pretty Captain Obvious, but most of us have no idea how to remain present. For example, have you ever found yourself sitting on a porch looking at a beautiful lake yet spending the entire time thinking about what you need to do later? Yup, you were not present.

We do it all the time. There are so many gears spinning in our heads that we cannot stop turning our minds away from our present reality. When I was part of Corporate America, I doubt I ever took a genuine vacation. My mind always had one foot in the business. I knew I was doing it too, but I didn’t stop because I was a manager and felt I needed to always be on the “pulse” of the business.

It isn’t very comfortable to admit, but my priorities were not in the correct place while I was in the workforce. And, that’s on me. My family and friends needed me way more than any job ever did. Back then, a good friend lost her husband suddenly, and I still went on my business trip to Portland, OR. I was afraid of losing my job–how ridiculous! That is one of the biggest regrets of my life. She was so much more important than any job.

Life is More Important Than A Career

There are many things I would do differently regarding my executive position. Hindsight is a marvelous thing! I now choose to live in the present, and my corporate career is nothing more than headlights in my rear-view mirror. Nothing can change the past, so why bother thinking about it?

There are many ways you can become better at living in the present. It starts with concentrating on mindfulness. I found an interesting article that discusses this topic in-depth. It claims that spending more time in the present moment leads to greater happiness. It cites a Harvard study that revealed “mind wandering” happens about 47% of the time, but you can learn how to redirect your mind towards happiness. You can find the article here: https://www.mindful.org/how-present-moment-awareness-can-make-life-more-meaningful/.

I used to be so proud of my multi-tasking abilities. Not anymore. Now, I like to take my time, notice my surroundings, and only do one thing at a time. It has made a big difference for me! I am enjoying things so much more now. Having gratitude has helped me stay in the present as well. By slowing down and being more conscious of my surroundings, I cannot help but feel grateful for all I have.

It Is Possible to Change Your Perspective

I had a startling thought last week when I pulled into my driveway. I looked at our house and thought, wow, our landscaping looks great! Can you believe I had a positive thought about our home? That was a long time coming!

I have resented our home since we closed on it three years ago. It reminds me of what cancer has taken from me. Before cancer, we lived in our dream home in a beautiful community until we couldn’t because I lost my job. Getting used to living where we are now has been quite challenging. Liking our home is serious progress for me!

Acceptance of my cancer continues to be difficult for me. All at once, it upended everything in my life. I spent the first few years of my cancer diagnosis undergoing surgeries and treatments. Those things required all of my attention. After that piece of my journey, I faced the reality that my entire world had changed. It was a difficult time.

Living in the moment or being mindful has helped me heal my emotional wounds. While difficult to learn, it has been worth the effort. I am calmer, happier, and genuinely more grateful for everything and everyone in my life. I feel like it is yet another way in which I am outwitting life. And it beats living in the past and feeling sorry for myself!

If you are interested in more information on mindfulness, this article provides six easy steps for you to try it, https://www.seleni.org/advice-support/2018/3/21/6-simple-steps-to-being-more-mindful. Please let me know if you pursue it and how it goes.

As usual, if I have said anything that resonates with you, kindly let me know in a comment below.