Rebecca Montrone, published in The Keene Sentinel's ELF Magazine July 18, 2019
“A little bit of summer is what the whole year is all about...”
Here we are, mid-July, AKA “the dog days of summer!”
While this lovely season boasts its share of pesky problems, such as insects, poison ivy, sunburn, excessive heat and humidity, I think you will agree, most of us just generally feel better during summer.
There are some scientific reasons for this. The first that comes to my mind is the length of our days. I find it exhilarating to get home at 7 pm and still have a couple of hours to enjoy the great outdoors. Wow. In the middle of winter, we get home at 4 pm, and it’s already dark. Mentally, something about that just kind of says “the day is done.”
Daylight starting right around 5 am is also wonderful. You want to get out of bed, go outside, enjoy the sounds and smells of nature, water the garden, drink a cup of Joe, take a nice walk, whatever it is you enjoy. This is also a great environment for calmly sorting through the rest of your day before you actually change gears and “get there.”
As much as most of us living in New England love it, seasonal depression is a big problem. And... it’s not just the shorter days but also the angle of the sun itself that makes a difference. The sun is higher during the spring and summer months. This improved angle is more effective at warding off depression, which is all about how your eyes are able to take in the sunlight. And don’t forget the role extra vitamin D plays in all of this.
Healthy food. Gardens. Farm stands. Right? So much fresh food available, and we crave these foods during the summer months. Fruit/berry/vegetable salads are nutrient dense and taste amazing. They not only nourish us with vitamins and minerals but also help keep us hydrated in the summer heat.
My husband Dale planted a nice little garden this year; tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and then lots of fresh herbs – mint, sage, thyme, basil, oregano, lavender, rosemary, tarragon. All of our meals are sprinkled with fresh herbs clipped just before adding to our favorite dishes. The health benefits of these herbs are well known and scientifically documented. Growing your own is so satisfying, too, not only for the visual beauty, the aroma in the garden or in pots on the deck, but purchasing fresh herbs on a regular basis is very expensive. How to use what’s left when the season is done? If you don’t already have one, buy a good dehydrator; dry and jar for the winter.
Beauty. Just that. Flowers. Trees. Birds. We can hear, see, and smell things that may seem subtle but are truly nourishing our souls. The sound of the wind through the trees. The fragrance of a fresh rain.
Vacation. Summer is a time when most people take some time off to enjoy “don’t-look-at-the-clock” time with family and friends. Relationships are fed and nourished by cooking and eating outdoors, playing cards into the night, walking on the beach, traveling to someplace different together. Reading books. Laughing, talking, sharing. Playing music.
My high point? I will personally be gorging myself on fresh, local corn for the next six weeks. Yeah, with LOTS of butter.
So. You enjoy this season, too. Milk it for all it’s worth:
“ ‘Cause a little bit of summer is what the whole year is all about.” - John Mayer
