Are you enjoying summer?

Bright skies, conversations with friends deep into the night, good food, the outdoors, insects, mosquitoes… Summer is a mixed blessing.

I deal with mosquito bites, humid weather and buckets of sweat as part of the great, wonderful deal called Summer. Having spent my childhood in tropical weather near the sea, I know how to make the best of this season.

I follow the same rule followed by my ancestors: Get up early, finish my workout and important ‘outside’ work by 11 in the morning at the latest, retire indoors to focus on other work, and eat light and healthy. Lazy afternoons under trees with plenty of watermelon were part of my childhood. Two or three showers a day and light cotton clothing with open sandals helped make great summer memories. Many times, I ran around barefoot. More activities followed later in the day, when the sun was not so strong.

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

Summer, like any other season, comes with some inconveniences. Some spoil their summer vacation by focusing on what cannot be changed – the heat and sweat. Instead of constantly complaining about the insects, dust and humidity, lie back and enjoy the starry nights. Go for a drive late in the night. Instead of clapping your hands on your ears during a thunderstorm, enjoy the light and sound show of nature. Listen to the cicadas, frogs and night birds singing. Or the sounds of the sea at night. Enjoy the fresh-washed greenery after a summer rain. Enjoy a lazy afternoon doing nothing. Do something different. You’ll be surprised how a change in focus can transform summer from an inconvenience to a fun experience, especially if you don’t forget the insect repellent.