Keeping your cool. -– Rock The Wrinkle

First, it’s hot. Just plain hot. Too hot.

I know it depends on where you live, but chances are, you’re already sweating more than you’d like by now. And it’s only the first few days of June. Egads.

Second, it’s harder for us over 50 when it gets this hot. We tend not to realize we are thirsty as soon as those who are younger, so we have to keep a water bottle with us and drink from it all day long. Really. Sip it every few minutes and you might keep from getting dehydrated or at least a blinding headache. The heat also just makes you feel weak and listless. You run out of gas halfway through a task (and this is when you are inside, usually in air conditioning).

Listen to your body. Rest. Get cool. Wait until dusk to cut the grass or clean out the trunk of your car. it’s just not worth it.

But even more than the seasonal heat, everything seems hotter right now. The air is filled with hateful tweets. Angry vices take over the news. Irritating political commercials make outlandish claims and force us to listen to people we would never give the time of day to if we sat next to them at the office. It all makes you want to find a shady place by a mountain stream and put your bare feet in the water, close your eyes and just feel that gift of peace.

You can’t make people stop spreading their heated words. But you can turn down their volume. Or better yet, hit the mute button.

Turn the channel.

Don’t read the angry Facebook post.

Delete the email with the doctored photos.

Walk away from the person who wants to tell you the racist joke, since it seems to all be “okay” these days to mimic very, very very behavior set by those in power.

Turn away.

Instead, breathe some cool air. Have some iced green tea. Listen to your favorite sonata. Sit with a grandchild in the grass and string together some clover. Buy a popsicle and sit on your front porch and enjoy it. Watch the lightning bugs at night.

Take back your summer. Take it where you want it to go.

Let them rave. You’ve heard it all before. Hot air doesn’t last long. Heated words blow back on those who choose to spread hateful messages. You know better.

Put down the phone. You won’t miss anything important. And you might create some wonderful open moments for other things to happen.

You carry your treasure within. Let yourself enjoy it.