Dear Earthly Powers

Dear Earthly Powers: would it be possible to move the summer solstice to July 21st instead of June?

I was having breakfast with my friend Michel this morning and we got on to the subject of the longest day of the year. Now, this may not be true for other parts of the world, but we decided that it was a shame that the longest day of the year is so EARLY in the year. After all, we haven't had a chance to enjoy the long days yet, and they are already getting shorter! Wouldn't it make more sense to have it in the middle of what we consider summer, say July 21st instead?

It's a good reminder that we need to stop often to consider the good things happening in our lives right now, enjoy them, and take advantage of the benefits that these good things bring to us so that they don't pass us by too quickly. Sure, maybe it's tough to stay out a bit later these days because we still have to get up early in the morning, but just remember how it feels to eat both breakfast and supper in the dark during the month of December. We need to enjoy the daylight and the warmth and well, as the saying goes, we'll sleep when we're dead.

Another thought to push us to enjoy what we have: since having made recent contact with some people in Australia, it hit me that it is winter for them. So they have really short days right now. We need to enjoy our long days so that our energy can be transmitted out to them to keep them going until things get a bit brighter. The same goes for other benefits that we enjoy...we need to build up energy so that we can share with others who may not have quite enough today.

All this having been said, I'm leaving you now to enjoy my lunch outside. It might be a bit cloudy, but there is a nice breeze and the birds are chirping (might as well enjoy them since they woke me up at 4:30 this morning!). Before you go back to what you were doing, though, think of one benefit you have received today that might not be there tomorrow. And enjoy it!