Whoever said “rainy days and Mondays always get me down” had it all wrong. Obviously they didn’t have an appreciation for the varied weather of the Northeast! An occasional stormy day can be a bear at times, indeed, but PATH people are fond of saying (and forgive the sentence structure), “There is no bad weather, only bad gear.” Perhaps the same is true about Mondays. There isn’t a bad day of the week, rather, it’s all in how you frame it.
Rainy days give us the excuse to slow down or to work on inside projects. Rainy days can be cozy, thought provoking, escaping, dreaming, snuggling days. They can also be productive and creative!
And Mondays? Well, I hate to pull the Pollyanna card but honestly, it’s a brand new start to a brand new set of hopes and dreams. And we get at re-do every week! Honestly, it’s a chance to focus and get “stuff” done so the weekend feels well earned.
Same with rainy days, it’s a great time to get soulful things done, or to just be (which is its own form of work for some). Here are some thoughts about framing your rainy day in healthy terms:
- Spruce up a room or a piece of furniture in your living space.
- Journal, write, blog, create — writing is great for the soul.
- Take on a craft or hobby you’ve always wanted to start.
- Research places you’d like to visit or things you’d like to try when it’s not raining. Head to the local Library for some ideas!
- Finish that project you started a while back.
- Make an inventory of things that need to get done, then begin a plan for one item on that list.
- Make or prep healthy food for the coming days. One of our friends spends part of every Sunday doing her “food workout” so the rest of the week is easy healthy eating.
- Bake bread! Oh man will your home smell good. Roasted chicken does the same.
- And for those with a sense of adventure: Take a walk in the rain (and maybe even hold hands) — what you see is totally different. But be sure to have the proper gear and be safe with weather. And a late summer rain can be so soothing. Oh man.
Those are just a few things we came up with in case you needed some structure. There are countless books written on the topic so we reiterate the idea of visiting the local library.
The key is to not overwhelm yourself and, if you’re a go-go-go type, to give yourself permission to relax and do nothing. Life is a series of sprints, not a marathon. We all need a break and some down time to be able to get back up and leap ahead. Rough weather is Mother Nature’s way of saying, chill.
As some of you head back to school this week, we realize you’re looking ahead to the ultimate Monday, the dreaded end of summer vacation. I’m hoping with all you’ve accomplished this summer, you’ll ease into work with a renewed attitude. Fall is a remarkable season and the anticipation of a new year of learning goals and social excitement is always palpable when school approaches. Before we get there, maybe take some time to frame how you’d like the year to go. How will you carry the joy of summer into your year so you can stay refreshed and focused?
I keep hearing people say, “I can’t believe summer is over.” WHAT? Just kidding, but let’s be real, August is still summer and September is incredible in Vermont, not to mention early October. It’s warm, often sunny, bright, and colorful. People come from all over the world to share it with us. Summer might be closing up, but there’s plenty of outdoor excitement to be had and plenty of summer-like joy left. A new season approaches, new delights await.
Are you living it?
See you on The PATH Ahead.