The Bookends of Summer

That is how I have come to think of Memorial Day and Labor Day. One begins the summer and the other ends it. Each obviously signifies so much more.

Memorial Day is not lost on me. Service to our country, dying for our beliefs, etc. If I did not fully get it before, I certainly do now that I am living in Military City USA. San Antonio, Texas - SATX. We recently hit the two-year mark on our move to SATX. We are still acclimating in many ways. In our short time here, we have had the coldest winter (snow fall and freezing) and the hottest summer (as measured by the most days of July in triple digits). It is hard to gauge what is typical since our experience and time here apparently is very atypical. We have time to let it sink in. This coming winter we will learn more.

Today ends the Labor Day weekend. Many people spent the three-day weekend enjoying picnics, camping, lake time and all sorts of gatherings to mark the closing of summer. Now we shift. Back to school. No longer wearing white. Generally getting more serious I suppose.

Before summer, in early May, I begin getting more serious about my nutrition and wellness. Habits I developed during the pandemic were not what I wanted long term. A course correction was definitely needed. Once again, I am collecting data (daily weight, calories consumed and burnt, and my sleep cycles) so I can be more mindful and objective about how I am managing my health and wellness. It was a challenge in the early days, but it gets easier each day.

Lately I am revisiting some of my former good habits. I had gotten away the morning routines that served me so well. Although I have continued my morning pages, my prayer and meditation practice more or less stopped. It is great to be back on the yoga mat again. I am not forcing yoga poses, rather, I simply stretch and find silence. It is developing nicely.