For me, it always takes a little getting used to...going from the teacher-mode of 110% end-of-the-school-year "Busy-ness Blast" to the relaxation brain of "Woo Hoo, Summer Vacation."
Mentally, I do get there pretty quickly. Even sleep-wise, I can easily fall into that "sleeping-in" mode. But, logistically, I think there is something about my growing "To Do" list that starts sometimes Mid-March. From then on, about everything through May winds up in world's biggest dump pile in my garage, basement, closets, scary bedroom corners, etc. Along the "domestic goddess side," I have so many home-improvement plans ahead, most of which involve the word "organization." (For me, a degree of of summer structure is good--but I don't want too much; I just want that organized outer world, which ultimately leads to a more organized inner world.)
Then too, I'm faced with the beauty of these 2-3 uninterrupted months, and all these things I want to do, so I become the "Energizer Bunny" on that front, still in "worker bee" mode.
Sunset on a Chesapeake Bay creek. |
It's around about here--a week or so into summer--that I drive myself crazy, and try to remember it's summer, for goodness sake!
I forget...or have forgotten...how to chill out.
So enter President Obama and his proclamation for June 2011 to become "Great Outdoors Month." To see his full proclamation, verbatim, go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/05/31/presidential-proclamation. The gist...get outside, get away from the TV, go have fun, and work to continue our national legacy of conserving land for everyone's future. As a follow up to The First Lady's "Let's Move" program, the new dietary guidelines of the Daily Plate (as opposed to the Food Pyramid), and February's report "America's Great Outdoors: A Promise to Future Generations,"June and the onset of summer is the right time for all of this.
Check out the "America's Great Outdoors" video:
Geocaching at MD's Patapsco Valley State Park |
Likewise, a jettison out in a friend's boat at sunset to skim across the water on the innertube helps me feel that summer fun freedom. Along those same lines, a trek to a state park (today, to Maryland's Patapsco Valley State Park to partake in our 3rd MD Park Quest) gives me quality time with my kids, the rocks, the salamanders, and the geocaching quest which taps into each of our critical thinking skills.
All of these things drag me away from the looming laundry, the daunting dishes, or the compelling urge to clean that garbage heap of a garage. All of these chores tend to pull at me sometimes when I'm home, making me forget what the lazy, hazy days of summer should be.
Rock Climbing & Crayfish Searching. |
So, on behalf of Green Team Gazette, spend a hunk of the rest of the month of June outside. Do it for your president; but more importantly, do it for you. June 2011 only will come around once--make the most of it!
For more info on any of the above info, go to:
Salamander Finds. |
--The White House Proclamation for June 2011: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/05/31/presidential-proclamation-great-outdoors-month
--America's Great Outdoors: http://americasgreatoutdoors.gov/ or http://americasgreatoutdoors.gov/2011/02/16/a-promise-to-future-generations/
--USDA's My Plate: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/
--Maryland Park Quest: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/parkquest/index.asp
June calendar pic from http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=june+calendar+2011&view=detail&id=770349CE84F37912072DB1143CA4724E98F12F66&first=91&FORM=IDFRIR
All other images from my camera...outside...this June!
While physical activity is necessary throughout the entire year, being outdoors in the summer time has additional benefits. The sun provides us with lots of Vitamin D that many people are deficient in. However, Vitamin D Vitamin D regulates blood pressure, reduces stress and tension, relieves body aches and pains by reducing muscle spasms, reduces respiratory infections, helps in differentiation of the cells, aids in insulin secretion, helps fight depression, improves overall skin health by reducing wrinkles, makes skin soft, strong, and smooth, and improves cardiovascular strength by providing a protective lining for the blood vessels.
ReplyDeleteSo, get outdoors ASAP and start getting your vitamin D fix!
Christal DeLoach
Holistic Health Coach
VirgoHealthCoach.com
"Optimizing Your Mind Body & Spirit"