Let the Summer Sun Heal You Inside and Out

by Jody Johnston Pawel, LSW, CFLE

I was recuperating from a recent surgery, stuck inside over a beautiful holiday weekend and then a long rainy week. The following weekend I was feeling starved for sunshine, the outdoors, and people --- but not too many people or too much activity… something relaxing.

My husband found a park that was new to us and not well known to many. As we parked, we only saw a few cars and one woman fishing.

We walked a short distance and found a nice spot in the shade by the fishing pond, where the cicadas were less deafening than in our own backyard and not too troublesome or in our face and space.

We spent a few hours there, doing very little, except occasionally toss a frisbee for our dogs to chase, since they were up to more exercise than I was.

Our main entertainment was a group of young teens who tried their luck at fishing. One boy caught a decent sized fish on his first attempt, which prompted a shout and thumbs-up from across the pond from my husband. The boy held up his prize catch, the girl with him took a photo, and he released the fish back into the pond.

Next, the girl’s hook got caught in the mud and had to be cut off. The other boy only caught a clump of algae that looked like seaweed. Soon, they moved on to another pond, a longer walk away.

With each of these little events, my husband and

I considered the symbolism and analogies they brought to mind --- about life, what’s “worthwhile and purposeful” activity, how some activities can be fun for some that are boring for others, how you don’t always catch what you want or expect, about acceptance, letting go and moving on … can you think of more?

All in all, it was a pretty lazy laid back day of fresh air and sunshine (in the shade) that was so refreshing and healing; I felt better just getting outside, but not overdoing myself. While my surgery was an obvious physical condition needing to heal, our day outside helped heal far more than that; it lifted my spirits, helped me feel human again, and helped me reconnect to nature: human, fauna and flora.

So let the summer sun fill you, too, with whatever healing you might need --- inside, outside, mind, body and spirit. You don’t have to be “in” direct sunlight to receive its warm healing energy.

Go nowhere special, do nothing extraordinary, and think nothing important. Just BE, while enjoying all the delights of the season, letting the Summer Bliss soak into your being and allowing it to radiate out to all you encounter.

About the Author: Jody Johnston Pawel, LSW, CFLE is the award-winning author of The Parent’s Toolshop® and CEO of Relationship Toolshop® International Training Institute, LLC. She has 30 years’ experience training over 50,000 parents and family professionals worldwide.

She’s a top-rated speaker and parenting expert to the media worldwide, including serving as the Co-Producer and Parenting Expert for the Emmynominated Ident-a-Kid television series.

If you want to improve your relationships with children or adults, attend Jody’s local, live classes. See the Events section for the Parents Toolshop® T.I.P.S. course (Tools for Improving Parenting Success) or The 6 Keys to Creating Heartful Relationships.

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Brian Eastman, LIIFT Practitioner 513 541 1257 - brian.eastman@LIIFT.info

Offices in Cincinnati, West Chester, Dayton.