For as long as I can remember I have hated the summer.

The unrelenting sun gives me headaches.

The heat scorches the earth until everything is brown and dry.

Mosquitos seem to be addicted to the taste of my blood.

When I was younger, I looked forward to summer vacation. The long days and lack of schedule made me feel like life was standing still just for me, and there would be time for everything.  But when I left school I lost even that small favor.

Every year I say that I would gladly trade the entire summer for an extended Fall/Winter.  Sure, the endless winter days can get a little depressing, and there would be no 4th of July, but at least I wouldn’t feel like I landed on the sun every time I stepped outside.

Somehow, all that changed this year.

I think it was because I paid attention to the change of the seasons.  I saw how the flowers bloomed after the long winter and how the mornings became filled with a little more light each day.

I also started spending more time outside.  Not during the hottest part of the day, because I don’t want to melt, but in the mornings.

Instead of waking up at the last possible moment and then rushing to get to work, I started waking up when the sun would rise to spend an hour alone with my thoughts at my outside table, or on a short run.

During my runs I started to see deer hiding in the vineyards and all the farm animals just waking up.  Irises and Poppies grow wild in the fields, enjoying the early morning breeze.

Now, instead of shutting myself in my air conditioned cave when I get off work, I head to the pool and stay there until my I am cool to my core, and the evening heat wraps around me like a warm towel straight from the dryer.

I have also started treating my weekends like mini summer vacations.  I give myself permission to save the chores for a weeknight and spend my saturdays and sundays eating gelato and playing tourist.

I still get pissy when I wake up with a string of mosquito bites decorating my leg, and if the AC goes out in my office again this summer all bets are off, but so far this summer is shaping up to be one of the best yet!