If you’ve spent much time here at Make the Journey Fun, you know that I’m no fan of summer. Southern Ohio is humid and hot and my internal thermostat runs warm so I mostly complain while running from one air conditioned spot to another. Summer in Ohio tends to start a little earlier and last a little longer almost every year so I’m perpetually angry that fall is so warm and that spring is over seemingly in a flash.

It occurrs to me that the days of our lives and the number of seasons we have in this life are limited. Yet I spend about half the year annoyed by a season. How wasteful is that? Since learning last year that there is such a thing as Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder, I have been contemplating ways to deal with it all and make summer more tolerable.

Yesterday I met a friend for a walk at the lake. It began raining the minute I got out of the car but we went on with umbrellas, enjoying an empty trail and a nice breeze off the lake as a steady rain made puddles before our eyes.

She and I talked about how much we enjoyed rain as children and how it didn’t deter our outdoor plans. We just went out and splashed in the puddles and played anyway. 

Do kids do that sort of thing these days? 

I held my umbrella off to one side just a bit so the cool rain could hit my bare arms. There was a light breeze that made for a truly comfortable and pleasant outdoor experience despite the rain. 

Or perhaps because of it. 

The shower did eventually move through and the humidity set in, causing my glasses to steam up as it became increasingly jungle-like. That was less fun and made me glad for the AC on the car ride home. 

I have been working on a list of ways I can embrace summer or at least not hate it so much. It’s a short list but I’ll keep working on it. 

The strategy that I seem to be leaning toward is to accept that it’s miserable outside and that I’m going to sweat and that I’m not going to enjoy it but to have things to look forward to once I can get in out of the heat.

Haha. I know. That’s probably not the best strategy but it’s a start. 

For example, I’m going to buy some truly delicious smelling body wash for great showers after long, hot hikes. Then there are cold treats like watermelon, sugar free popsicles and water. Hydration is vital and it feels like a treat on a hot day. 

Then there are preventative acts like accepting there will be mosquitos and preparing for them. Embracing the sun hat and hiking early or late will make the day better. And, of course, there are strategies for enjoying the indoors like going to the movies, choosing a summery scent to make my house smell good, and even spending time at home feathering my nest. 

Road trips with the rock and roll turned up will be fun too.

The good news is that I have a sturdy sense of JOMO. The Joy Of Missing Out is strong in yours truly. Everyone else can enjoy their midday frolics on the beach and backyard barbeques when it is too humid to breathe. Good for them!! I’ll be inside a cool movie theater or home sipping ice water.

I do have some homework. I need to find some recipes for cool foods and want to look for a few summer clothes that I don’t hate. And I do hate them all. Women’s summer clothes tend to be made cheaply and often are extremely unbecoming. This is a project for another day.

The point is that I want to keep growing my list and working my strategies with hopes that I can make peace with this season that I dread so much. I don’t want to spend the entire season asking if it’s fall yet. I want to appreciate each day for what it is and be happy about it. 

Each day is what we make of it so pardon me while I get busy making my days what I want them to be!