August

August is a tough month for me.
My brother Nathan was killed in August and his birthday is in August.
School starts. Although Cole is going to be a high school senior and Matthew starts year 2 of college, I hate the whole start back. Mostly, I hate the getting up but then, I hate getting up period.
It is hot.
August is my worst month.

So, I am going to do August differently this year and I am going to use our AT adventure as the impetus.

Here is my plan:

1. Work out every day. I know. How many times have I said this/planned this/tried this. But this time I will succeed. Here is the criteria. It just has to be 15 minutes of something. Anything. Just 15 minutes and that gets the gold star.
2. Eat something wonderful every day. Plan it. Buy it. Fix it. Enjoy it. I have to say, I have a really bad tendency to eat my way through unhappy times and I don't intend to do that this month. This is the month of fabulousness in the garden and stodgy just won't cut it.
3. Find someone to praise every single day. Try to make it in writing.
4. Pause. Pause to give thanks for Nathan. Pause to give thanks that my children are doing well in school, that they are in school, that they have access to wonderful schools, that their minds are being stretched. Pause to not overload my body with heat. Pause to enjoy. Pause to be sad. Pause before I erupt. (Especially this one.)
5. Plan our next AT adventure and make it quick!

What did we learn from our first 3 trail adventures? Prepare the correct way, plan and get the right gear, relax and enjoy the ride. That is my goal for not just making it through August but making this an outstanding month period.