Thanks for the reminder

Posted on August 1, 2010 | 0 comments

Today is the first of August.

It’s a beautiful day. Perfect summer weather. The kids and I have been taking advantage of one of our city’s splash pads.

The kids are running through the water sprinklers and making new friends. I’m sitting in the shade and reading a book.

Like I said, a perfect summer day.

And then this little yellow leaf floated down and landed on me. YELLOW! Already. Just a subtle reminder that the summer doesn’t last forever.

In that instant, I had a choice to make. I could have chosen to feel sad. Sad that the summer will soon be over and sad that this little yellow leaf will soon be joined by hundreds of others in their fall to the earth.

I could have looked at the park full of kids and chosen to feel sad that they would soon be back in school. Growing up faster and faster and hurtling towards adulthood.

I might have even chosen to get a bit depressed about the entire situation.

But I made a different choice. I thanked my little yellow friend for reminding me to cherish this simple, yet sublimely perfect moment in time. I tucked the leaf into my book, closed it and chose to soak in the scene with all of my senses.

- The way the sunlight played with the water spray to cast rainbows everywhere.
- The warmth of the sun on my body and the contrast of the gentle, cooling breeze on my skin.
- The tell-tale summer sound of the cicadas, punctuating the squeals of innocent delight from all of the kids each time another water sprinkler began to spray.
- The taste of my iced coffee.
- The smells of lush grass and trees mixed with the pungent scent of chlorine from the water.

Yep, a perfect summer day! Made all the more perfect by a simple reminder …and a choice.