June 2021 Musings

IF ONLY 

     In the mountains of North Carolina where I live, we are having a heatwave. You may know the kind of heat I mean. It’s barefoot kids with red, sweaty faces running in and out the back door all day long for water kind of heat. Or cooking supper in the kitchen feeling like you’re melting away kind of heat. You could even say it’s ripping off your yoga pants and putting on shorts and frightening your kids half to death with your wobbly, white legs sort of heat. And if your air conditioner is breathing out it’s very last cool breaths into the world like ours is, well then, you are very familiar with the sweltering summer days I’m talking about. And all of this moaning and melting has me musing on something this month that you may be familiar with as well- IF ONLY.
     Because I remember during the winter one thought that wound its way through my mind like the Kudzu vine in my front yard slowly taking over the chain-link fence. If only it wasn’t so cold, I would think, then I could have a good day. Then I would be motivated to get out from under this afghan and clean this messy house. I thought the coming of warm weather was going to lift my spirits and change everything for the better.
     Except now the weather that I dreamed of is here, and I keep thinking- if only it wasn’t so hot, it would be a great day. I would be motivated to tackle this epic to-do list. When the cool fall weather comes back my spirits will rise like the smoke lifting lazily into the sky from the wood stove pipe.
     But it occurs to me, and not for the first time, that life is crazy and the weather is never perfect. Part of the year is too hot, and part of the year is too cold. Guess what, Goldilocks- nothing is EVER just right! 
     Oh, we will have a few perfect days. Those fall days when the breeze is cool and the sun is warm on your back and you feel invincible, like you could tackle any project or solve any problem. Or the spring days when the Daffodils are lifting their yellow faces to the sunshine and you take your sweatshirt off and tie it around your waist and feel free and easy in your t-shirt. Those are good days, and you have to drink them in and store them up and laugh and love and live like there is no tomorrow, because one day there won’t be.
     Most days, though, will be mediocre days. Days that make us think, if only…
But how about we make a promise to each other this June. How about we catch ourselves every time we think if only, and choose to roll with what we have instead. I know that’s not possible for all of us. Some of us are in seasons of life full of drama or trauma or problems that won’t go away with thinking positive. We’ll encourage each other through those times too. But if you’re stuck in a cycle of waiting for something to change so that you can be happy, let’s kick that something to the curb. It’s empowering to realize that nothing will ever be perfect, but that it can be good enough. Hot, sweaty kids mean popsicle stained smiles. Hot kitchens mean summertime cold salads and watermelon. And bringing our winter legs out of hiding can mean shorts and flip flops and the delicious feeling of kicking our legs in an icy aquamarine pool.
     So here’s to June- I hope you have a wonderful month, and a wonderful summer season! And so long if only, we’ve got some living to do.
                                                                                                        
                                                                                                        Love,
                                                                                                             Stac