Get Outside
Dear Friends,
Can you believe that we are halfway through summer? Have you been outside much? I don’t mean just for a walk to the mailbox. Do you spend time outside drinking in the sunshine and admiring the flowers? That question reminds me of a great story, a family favorite.
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson tells the tale of a young bull who’d rather sit under a tree and smell the flowers than bullfight. Ferdinand was grateful for the simple pleasures of nature.
What about you?
Years ago, when I started working in my garden, my kids joined me. As we dug in the dirt, removing the weeds, we discovered snails and worms. These findings sparked the interest of my then five-year-old daughter. It wasn’t long until she and her friends were digging in the dirt with me. They found an old box and transformed it into the little creatures’ habitat. Soon they had a collection of live snails, earthworms, and other insects. My daughter delighted in her new pets. They slept in her room and joined us at the breakfast table. She couldn’t wait to spend more time looking for additional members of her dirt-loving family. Like Ferdinand, my daughter knows how to enjoy nature.
Now I’m not suggesting that you let your kids dig up your backyard, but I do challenge you to go outside. You can do many of the things you’d usually do in the house outdoors – eat, read, nap, talk. Or you could do something more adventurous – go for a bike ride, shoot some hoops, take a hike in the woods, skateboard in the park, play hide-and-seek. Whatever you do, get outside! Enjoy the sights, smells, and sounds of Summer.
Love,
Tamara