Have you had an Advanced Recess summer?
#docklife in Maine
If there is one season that should be somewhat synonymous with recess, it’s absolutely summer. Longer days, warmer temps, a slower pace and endless options for playtime. I’m sure these are shared thoughts when we think of summer and conjure up all that we want to do during the season that always seems to go by in a blink. Along these same lines, I’ve also heard some people say something to the effect that we only have so many summers to enjoy with our kids (if we have them) so we shouldn’t short change ourselves on making special memories with them but, heck, when it comes to summer, shouldn’t we all just be kids at heart!!? A time to grow back down, enjoy the simple and magical things with our without kids, imagine, do and just be. That’s certainly true for me. I wanted to have a summer to channel the kid in me - bike rides, sitting at the edge of the dock, kicking a ball around, watching fireflies, jumping in the water, you get it. Now the question I’m asking myself as we arrive in mid August is if I’ve done all that I wanted to do…and if I was really present and in the spirit of play while I did them. Fortunately, for me, I can see YES, I did all these things. For someone who spent four weeks at a cabin in Maine that is 10ft from the water, it would be terribly sad if I didn’t excel at playtime. But, what would be all the more sad is if while I was doing the things that one would say are play, is if I was somewhere else in the moment, lost in thought, thinking of the next thing, etc. I think we all know this feeling and I’ve been guilty of this before. But, this summer, I really feel I was totally there. Playing and feeling free. And, if I noticed I wasn’t really there then I made a shift. I was going through a stressful personal time so the opportunity for playtime meant all the more to me. I didn’t want to take it for granted, I didn’t want to go through the motions, I didn’t want to just boxes off the list that I was playing. I wanted to be there - REALLY PLAYING!
I’m not sure who is reading this who can relate to this or who maybe feels that’s where you’re at this summer. If you do, it’s okay, I’ve been there. But, here’s the good news: it’s only August. Summer is still going and you still have time to ensure your summer is one of the Advanced Recess spirit. Yes, yes, I know that some schools are back in session and maybe holidays are over - sadly not all of us have the European August vacation:( - but it’s still mid-August! There are still hot days in front of us, lakes to swim in, roads to ride, balls to throw, boats to paddle, trails to discover, chairs to kick back in. Heck, Neil Diamond even wrote an album with a title about this awesome month. It’s still playtime people! So, goooooo. Go play. And really be there. And have yourself an Advanced Recess kind of summer…
And a few Hot August Nights :)!
