I’m working from my deck today. The sun still has that August strength, but the air is crisp and cool; a paradox. A harbinger of environmental change. Two natural elements battling it out for control. My psyche, as of late, is like this weather; two mindsets battling it out. I always have a tough time at the end of the summer. I am most at peace by the ocean, so the Ocean Side of me does not want the summer to end. The ocean is where I am happiest, where I do my best thinking, where I gain the most clarity, where I feel most at home, and where I spend most of my free time in the summer. I mourn the end of summer when it hits, and come September, without fail, I can feel myself slipping into a brief, yet powerful funk. Yet, the Practical Side of me knows that I don’t have a choice: the seasons must change and it is time to transition (albeit abruptly) back into the world of hectic schedules, homework, school sports, and shorter days. So, my body, mind, and soul are at odds with each other and I find myself squeezing every last drop out of summer’s toothpaste…

read more