Michael's blog: August

The evidence was clear, a chaotic mess. Or was it?

This scene reminded me of a story I heard years ago - the gist of which is that it would be easy to be frustrated by the mess, but consider first what the mess represents. In this case, it was a gathering of family returning home. The shoes of sons, wives, grand children and our youngest son's girlfriend. I had to take a picture!

What a joy it is as a parent, that far flung grown children, now all adults, were happy to return home and connect with each other and Lesley and I. Now that's not to say that I'd want that mess all the time - Lesley and I enjoy our space, especially when its tidy, but we also cherish the opportunity to have most of our family together.

I'm currently reading (among other books) the Good Life by Robert Waldinger, MD and Marc Schultz, PhD. The book is largely based on finding of the Harvard Longitudinal Study on Happiness (aka the Harvard Study on Adult Development and also know as the Grant Study). I’m only a few chapters in, but already the authors highlight the importance of relationships as foundational to 'a good life'.

We've passed the apex of summer, with many of our southern neighbours already in back to school mode and us with only a couple of weeks before we hit the mini New Year, that is the fall season following Labour Day. Which makes it a good time to think about relationships, family or friends, that we want to better engage with.

There's still time to make that call, send the text, and get together for a picnic, a walk in the woods or a beach visit while the weather is still good. Because engaging in nature means not leaving shoes in a chaotic pile by the front door!