Fireflies…

I can’t believe it’s August. I saw a meme online today that said, “It’s August already? I’m still mentally in June with a to do list from March.” In many ways, that’s exactly how I feel. Writing this blog has been a challenge and I can say that in the first paragraph because I’ve been working on it mentally for a couple of weeks. Trying to figure out the topic. Trying to sort out my point of view. Trying to find something positive. Because it’s summer and there should be lots of positives.

There are so many ways in which to cope with struggles and if you need help, please reach out and get it. This isn’t about people suffering from mental and physical extremes. This is for us regular “Joes and Joans” who sometimes need to be reminded that life, even in its toughest moments, is a gift.

Summer”time” is something I’ve always liked, even as a child. The time to sleep in. The time to be slow. The time to enjoy life. The time to forget about the chores, occasionally. Our memories aren’t perfect but when it comes to summer, I think: sunshine, warmth, barbecues, swimming in the pool, relaxing.

For some reason 2026 is proving to be a difficult year. Winter was hard. Harder than past years and not just because of the weather. A lot of people I know struggled throughout. Summer was to be the break. The opportunity to regain good feelings. Instead I keep hearing about problems. The friend whose spouse has been out of work for a few months and how difficult their world is right now. The person who ran into financial problems and feels like life is pummelling them. The friend who is drained from supporting everyone around them and feeling like their own needs are not being met. The people still recovering from Canada Day floods that destroyed property. The friend who is severely impacted physically by heat and humidity. There are so many examples around me of the potential for feeling defeated.

Let me be clear. These are not examples of people who are admitting defeat. In fact, the opposite. My friends are incredible. They keep going. They keep trying. They keep putting one foot in front of the other. But they’re tired. Drained. Lost.

As I considered different blog topics (usually I have multiple fighting to be written) I realized that maybe I can share my reactions to struggles. It can’t hurt and who knows maybe it can help. At the very least it’s a reminder to me that I have plenty of lights providing comfort.

Fireflies. Last night I went for a swim after dark, a favourite pastime of mine in the summer. No one can see into my property so it’s just me, the soothing water and fireflies. I love fireflies. I’m fascinated by the sparking lights as they twinkle around my yard. This year seems to be a resurgence, at least here. I have so many of them and they start sparkling before night has fully engulfed the backyard. They are a joy to watch.

Always - friendship. This past week I was blessed to join two friends for lunch. What a treat! Just having time with those who are dear to you is amazing. On top of that, to have those people trust you with their stories and experiences is incredible. My mother told me recently I’m lucky to have friends who will always be honest with me and I agreed. Beyond that, to trust me with their joys and battles? Precious. I have been gifted with multiple friends and I will forever be grateful.

Music. I’ve mentioned it before and I’m bringing it up again. Music really can soothe the savage breast. Even back in the late 1600’s William Congreve knew that music has a charm. It can calm our troubles, take away the worst of our fears and give us much needed tranquility when the world is chaotic. I’d gotten busy in the last few months writing and forgot to take the time to play music while cleaning or cooking or reading the paper. I’ve consciously been turning it on again and am grateful for the peace it provides. It makes me move, too, which is never a bad thing!

“My” birds. My love affair with the birds in my yard continues. I’m fascinated by their characters, their songs and their brilliant colours. A couple of weeks ago my mom and I were sitting on my porch and a beautiful goldfinch stopped for a visit in my closest tree. They’re often in my yard and my bird app picks up their music but rarely do I get to see them so clearly. It was enchanting and the two of us thoroughly enjoyed it. Taking a few minutes to relax and watch as they flit around is never a waste of time.

My pool. We have had a wild summer with heatwaves and the odd cold front. Throughout it all, there have been numerous storms and heavy rain. Although I can’t go into the pool during thunderstorms, every other time is an opportunity to soak up the calming and cooling atmosphere of my pool. I often start and end my day there. This summer, more than I remember, I’ve struggled with heat. Not the heat of the weather, although when it gets really hot I am very appreciative of my air conditioning! No, it’s body heat that is plaguing me. I’ve been through the hot flashes and thought they were done, although I’ve been told they come back - UGH! I can’t remember the last time I was cold. Even with the a/c on, I have a fan pointed at me all night. I’m hot all the time. Thank goodness for my pool.

A to do list. It might sound strange but my to do list keeps me going even when it seems like life is too much. I’m responsible to ensure that my house and yard are taken care of and taking the time to write a list, even a couple of bullet points gives me direction when I’m feeling overwhelmed. I laughed at myself yesterday. I was sitting on my porch and could feel my grass growing. Our forecast was for rain and I really didn’t want to rush into “work” but I knew it had to be done. I put my cup of tea away and got mowing. Ninety minutes later I was enjoying a late breakfast with a fresh cup of tea admiring my freshly mown grass as a rain shower came through. Accomplishing something can make all the difference in my day.

Sorting/cleaning/tidying. Yes, we all have lots to clean. Houses are a never-ending opportunity to mop or dust or vacuum. There’s always laundry it seems. But that’s not what I’m talking about. The older I get, the more I realize that taking a bit of time and concentrating on one area that could use sorting is truly beneficial. In my case, I took the time to sort out my shed. Since I got it two summers ago I’ve used it but haven’t really set it up properly. I would put things away but never found the time to make it an efficient space. I took two afternoons and tackled it. There was only a half bag of garbage but I got it cleaned up so that I can walk around, find everything within and have room for easy access to my kayak! I truly felt better when I was done.

Kayaking. I bought myself a kayak during the fall sales last year and until I spent the time sorting out my shed, it sat propped against a wall covered in plastic. Now that it’s available for use, I’ve been out and fallen in love. Thankfully I have an amazing friend who lives next door and also loves to kayak. I know we will discover our nearby waterways throughout the remainder of this summer and summers to come. The physicality of “doing”, the fresh air, the rocking of the water all contribute to putting my whole body at ease.

Football. Now before you groan (if you know my team) please understand that going out, surrounded by people who belong to the same team community is a great way to leave behind stress. Although the stress of a losing team is currently with us, the atmosphere in which we share our cheers and our laments means a lot to someone like me who is often alone.

I hope you have moments in your life that bring you smiles, joy, love and satisfaction. I try to write one positive thing from each day on a piece of paper which I then put in a jar. At first I focused on joy and then realized that some days were just crappy and joy couldn’t be bought. So, I shifted and decided “positive” was the better approach. There is something positive in every single day and if I can write one down, then I can make that the focus. It helps.

What I’m reading this week.

To be honest, I finished this book last week but I’ve been lax in writing my blog and I really enjoyed it so…here it is. Daniel Silva writes spy novels. They are fascinating and I await his new book each July. This one was released on the 14th, I picked it up on the 16th and had it finished in ten days. One of the things I love about his books is his use of art works. I’ve learned so much from reading them and I go on to research the paintings so I can better appreciate them. The other thing that stands out for me are the notes he includes at the end of the book. It explains what he’s used that is fictitious and what is real - locations, events, history, etc. LOVE this! And finally, I love a well written book that keeps me engaged. Daniel Silva never lets me down.

This is the newly released Daniel Silva novel that I loved.

A football hero from my childhood was in attendance at our Legacy Night this past Friday. Even though we lost, it was a fun night.

I usually only use this vase during winter but I think it’s a good addition to my library/sitting room.

I recently shared an image of indoor blooms so felt that a similar picture of some of my outdoor flowers was warranted. What a gorgeous time of year! Quick note: in the top left is one of the lilacs I planted along my driveway. I get two sets of blooms - one in May/June and another in late July/August. I love it!