From Dr. Jane's Notebook

Jane says, "Hit the reset button this summer"

Summer months are like reset buttons for the rest of the year. Around the world, summer seasons are recognized as opportunities to shift gears, make changes and make memories. I can imagine a book where each summer of our lives has its own unique theme and chapter. As a child, time moved slowly and summer days were long. As a young adult, the pace of life began to speed up but the summer months still formed a distinct bridge between May and September. Now, as a seasoned adult, the summer months whirl by so quickly that I have to slow down in order not to miss them and I have to take specific steps to make them memorable. Here are a few more thoughts on the matter.

Summer is a great time to re-examine your life map. The months of summer are like crossroads and intersections between busy years. Summer months offer time to re-examine the path we are on. During the year, we have made many decisions and many decisions have been made for us. With all that has happened, it’s a good time to look back at your goals and determine whether you are on track or whether you have been blown off course.
Take an important photograph. Pictures are miraculous ways of preserving memories. They capture our experiences, accomplishments, reunions and they capture moments in time. From a historical perspective, pictures help us preserve the past. From a future perspective however, the pictures we create in our mind can help us identify and design our next goals. Take a few minutes to imagine a photograph depicting an important moment in your life…that has not happened yet! Then, allow your thoughts and dreams to work on the necessary steps to make that photograph become a new reality.
Focus on just one goal at a time. When you think about making changes in your life, try to focus on that single photograph in your mind. As Kevin Costner, who portrays a baseball pitcher in For the Love of the Game says, “Clear the Zone”. When we overcomplicate our thoughts, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and never take that first step. Or if we become distracted and forget to focus adequately, we may also fail to take that first step in a new direction.
There are a few important tools. To help you on your way, the best and quickest way to raise your self-esteem and self-confidence…. is to learn something new. When we learn something new, we feel instantly smarter. To test out this method, simply pick up a magazine and read an article; most likely you will begin to feel better informed. Next, the best and quickest way to increase your sense of self-worth… is to accomplish something. While there are always new challenges available, you can also revisit former interests and prove to yourself that you’ve still go it! Some people return to school, take on volunteer endeavors, resume athletics, or relearn how to play musical instruments. The possibilities are endless.

In a matter of weeks, the summer will end and work days will once again grow longer. For now, life is like a carnival with all kinds of interesting things going on around us. Some are free, some cost money, some are active, and others are more relaxing. When this summer is over and you give it a theme, how will you describe this chapter in your book?

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