,
The thunder is rumbling at the moment as I type away in my office. The rain is pulsating intensely from the sky one minute and softly and then not at all the next. The steam rises from the road releasing the pavement's relief from the heat of August days here in central Oregon.
There are many analogies one can draw from these summer thunder and rain-showers, and the one that I tend to celebrate is the relief that is gifted to everyone the rain falls down upon. The quick reduction of the thermometer's temperatures brings a sigh and a smile from not only myself and neighbors but my pups as well.
The beautiful balance of intensity followed by a calm restoration of serenity mirrors the need for each of us, while we need to pursue our goals, seek productive days and weeks, to also to tend to our well-being.
What a happy coincidence that August tends also to be the month of the year many of us around the northern hemisphere take time for holidays, vacations and getaways. Seeking to reduce the pace of our lives, seeking a different speed entirely, seeking a different environment all together sometimes.
A regular change of pace, if we are assured it will follow the hard work we put in, makes it easier to buckle down and grind it out if necessary. In this week's Monday's Motivational post I share a quote from Oprah Winfrey excerpted from a recent commencement speech. With reassurance that even when events in our lives don't seem to work out when or initially how we want them, the truth of the matter is, it actually is - thus the
title of the post - "Chin Up! Everything Is Working Out For You (even when you don't think that it is)".
We may not always know when a heat relieving rain shower will occur, but if we understand basic meteorology, we know it eventually will happen if we are in a particular geographic location. The same can be said for putting the necessary work forth, ensuring we are expending our energy in the proper direction and continuing to keep our eyes trained in the right direction so to take advantage when opportunity presents itself.
Our efforts are building heat, energy, so to speak, and that heat needs to be expended eventually. Our job, after doing all of the hard work, is to have the patience to expend it in a direction that will bring quality relief that is deeply satisfying.
In this week's newsletter, there are many articles to enjoy this week, and a few that have prompted wonderful discussion and detailed comments from readers. From shopping at the farmers markets - is it an-absolute-must or snobby (before you take sides, read the post as it certainly is more than an either/or conversation), to the topic just shared above in Monday's Motivational post.
As a weekly newsletter subscriber, make sure to check out the post just below which shares in detail what TSLL's upcoming French Week will include. Hint - there is an exclusive opportunity for you - weekly newsletter subscribers - just be sure not to miss it when it gets posted.
With the fourth annual Francophile event kicking off on Sunday morning, I am looking forward to sharing so much of what I shared glimpses of during last month's trip to France on Instagram and so much more. Wishing you a wonderful weekend, and thank you for subscribing. Until next Friday, I will see you on the blog.
