August can feel like one really long Sunday to me. Sundays get me every time. Am I supposed to relax or get ready for the week? Damned if I know.

Years ago I was introduced to this reading which has gently suggested to me a new approach to life. One section reads, “I will have a quiet half-hour all by myself and relax. During this half-hour, sometime, I will try to get a better perspective of my life.” The thought of having an entire half-hour of peace and reflection, with four ding-dongs running about the house, seemed like an impossible task. But I’m (almost) always open to suggestions.

Before hearing this quote, I didn’t realize that I was just putting things on the list without taking the time to actually think about what I was doing or when I would do it. Carving out quiet time for me to gain perspective on my life allows a moment to logistically manage when the tasks will actually get accomplished. This really helps lower my stress. But, more importantly, it affords me the opportunity to decide if the chore should even be done at all.

Will I have thirty minutes from now till August 31st to peacefully reflect? It’s a stretch. But even ten to fifteen minutes can truly help me put my ‘to do’ list back into perspective. My father likes to say “I’m not here for a long time, I’m here for a good time.” I’ve also been told, “God can move mountains but you have to bring the shovel.” I think somewhere in there is the balance between allowing myself space to enjoy the rest of the summer, while also setting aside time to get ready for what comes next.