The Dog Days of summer are here! Or at least this week it’s here. And it’s hot. So much so that I am hiding in my cool home, just like I hide in my warm home all winter!

So, generally, a lot of hiding all year round!

Yesterday I was spent after gym. And it was Monday which is always harder to go about after the weekend shenanigans. Monday Grace dictated that I take a nap after lunch. So I got into my bed with the fan on, and had a most delicious 20 minute nap. It reminded me of summer naps back in India when I was growing up. Except that we had the water cooler on full blast, and the windows covered from the blazing sun before getting into bed. And then falling asleep reading a book…

I have to keep reminding myself that it’s not as hot as I have grown up experiencing summer. 

That my body knows how to deal with this.

That my body is not really meant to stay at “room temperature” and comfortable all the time. 

I work hard at keeping my body mobile and strong when it comes to joints, muscles and bones.

I need to keep my temperature regulation strong too. Winter is much harder of course. But summer I can do. 

We only have air conditioning on for sleeping, and only when really needed. Otherwise, open windows are mostly fine.

I did not grow up with air conditioning in India. I can live without it mostly in Canada. 

I walk slowly to the yoga class because even around 6:30 in the morning, I get sweaty just from walking if I don’t slow myself down. And there being no air conditioning in the yoga room means really getting sweaty once we all start with Surya Namaskars. But as my teacher reminded us today, this is the closest we can get to Mysore conditions (where she got her training) here in Canada. And with about 80 fewer bodies in the room. 

So it’s all good.

I made my errands route after dinner last night. The point was to hit all the necessary places, but no extra steps. And I had to psyche myself for it. Coz it was hot!

I had a cool home and PJs to look forward to. And it was hot, but not so bad once I convinced myself of it. 

I think mindset has a lot to do with how we deal with hard things in life- with ease or excitement, or with pain and anger.

I choose ease and excitement. But that too is a constant work in progress. Like everything in life.

So let me start with not complaining about summer. 

Even though it’s hot, my body can deal with it as long as I am smart about it.