We are now halfway through the summer; are you enjoying and making the most of yours this year? While I am not a big fan of summer heat, I remind myself that this season is so necessary in the natural world and how can I learn to not just “get through it” but to have good experiences and make good memories along the way.

It’s been a hard year of drought here in the West and it’s tempting to hunker down and not engage in “extra” things that feel expansive or perhaps, even guilty. The reality is that I cannot change the drought. I can pray and I can trust God and I can still have a life.

I have always loved to travel and explore, but I can always find a reason to stay home and do “work”. God’s been really reminding me that life is a decision-making experience and that travel and experiences and making memories adds expansion, energy, wisdom, and wealth to our lives. There will ALWAYS be work to do and I’m thankful for that. I love to work. However, there are also ALWAYS opportunities to explore and enjoy our lives and those can be a very important balance to hard work.

Over the 4th of July, my family and I went to Mt. Rushmore. My dad had been a Park Ranger there in his early working years. The Black Hills had received some rain and it was much greener there than here. Seeing green, lush meadows surely helps a rancher’s heart when there is strong drought going on at home!

We rented a great little cabin near Hill City, we took in a parade and fireworks drone show ( it was super cool) in Rapid City, rode the 1880’s train, explored the SD State Railroad Museum, drove through Custer State Park, the Needles Highway, watched real fireworks over Mt Rushmore and in Rapid, had some picnics, and of course ice cream on Independence Day! Happy 250th birthday America!

Over those few days it was a good reminder to just take a break, to see some new scenery, to relax, and be present with your loved ones making memories. We need to have a good balance of rest and work in our lives to maintain good health and a good outlook over the course of our long lives.

After returning home, I was sharing a conversation with a mastermind friend about the subject of “capacity” versus “capability”. I’ll write more about this in a future newsletter, but it really made me think about how work and play fall into these buckets as well. Where do you have the “capability” of doing some work but not the “capacity”?

I hope your summer reminds you to play and work and find more joy daily as you practice “presence”. What did you do to celebrate America’s 250th birthday? What is your favorite way to relax and play in the summer? Let me know! I always love hearing from you!