You deserve a break today.....

I jump for joy when it is time for our annual beach trip. It seems as though the time between trips takes forever, yet the time we are there flies by. When the kids were small, it seemed like more work than a vacation - packing up the wagon with chairs, the tent, sand toys etc. Then once we got to the beach, setting everything up and applying sunscreen to squirmy little bodies took forever. Now, everyone is responsible for themselves and we truly are able to relax!

I count down to the summer every year. My friends all chuckle because as soon as the temperature drops below 50, I begin "279 days until Memorial Day Weekend" and so on. Until finally it is time for baseball, sitting on the deck, longer days, trips to the pool and of course, vacation! There is something so relaxing about the summer months, the day to day hustle even feels less stressful. But, taking a real break from the day to day is crucial to our mental health.

Stress is a major contributor to heart disease; which is the number one cause of death in our country. We don't know how to just step back and relax and yet we all truly need it. Just last week, it was announced that Shawn Mendes was cancelling his shows until the end of the month so he could take time to regroup. We all need to take that time to recharge.

I find time at the ocean to be so cathartic. Whether I am watching the sunrise and the promise of a new day unfold or taking in the beauty in the stunning colors of the sky at sunset I am always brought back to reality. The rhythmic movement of the waves can make me forget anything on my mind. I use the time at the beach to read and to reflect. Yes, there were years when we had a staycation and I tried my best to make time each day to rest. Listening to music or even ocean waves on my phone and just closing my eyes for a bit to attempt to transport myself to the ocean. It wasn't the same, but it was an attempt to "escape" and find some type of respite from the everyday realities.

Alas, all good things come to an end and it is time to return to the hustle and bustle of our daily grind. For some, it's getting kids ready to return to school, cooler temps and the approach of the holiday season seems to hit us square in the face once August rolls around. We will once again mourn the end of the warm days and quieter schedules and return to the hectic pace that consumes us. Take time this summer to recharge your batteries - time alone with your thoughts and find yourself again. Find your time to live like.....