It's Summer. Let's Huddle.
Not cuddle. Huddle.
Happy Saturday,
I hope you’re starting the day with a great cup of coffee, and then maybe heading out for a walk, run, or bike ride.
Or something fun and sunny.
I love to start my days with a run… but lately, it’s been a bit dusty and bumpy on my daily treks. They’re tearing apart the road near my house and it’s smack dab in the middle of my running route (as well as every other route).
So every day, I’m dodging trucks, workmen, and bulldozers. This little obstacle course not only muddies my runs, but also car trips into town.
It’s the stuff summer construction nightmares are made of.
However, it’s been kind of fun to watch the routines of the workers. Although I don’t plan it, I somehow run past the fellas every day just as they’re having their morning huddle.
I never hear what they’re saying, but I imagine they’re going over the schedule for that day, talking about safety considerations, or maybe making weather predictions. Actually, though, I have no idea. They could be discussing last night’s Brewers game for all I know.
At any rate, I understand the practice of “huddling” is common in many industries. For example, when I had surgery a few years ago, I’d just been wheeled into the ER, and before they put me under, the doctor called a “timeout.” The surgical team then checked in with each other and me to make sure we were all on the same page as to what was about to go down.
So, sort of like a huddle.
Similarly, my friend is a director at a hospital, and she’s told me about her 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. huddles that come at the start of shifts, to make sure everyone knows the score.
I’ve been told that aircraft technicians have similar huddling and safety practices. (My nephew’s in the biz.) This is nice to hear - safety checks when working on plane engines are a good thing.
For many professions, the stakes are so high that the need to stop, double check, and proceed with caution is absolutely mandatory.
Which brings me to today’s newsletter, coming to you on June 1. While June 20 is the official “first day of summer,” doesn’t it feel like when we hit June, the whirlwind pace of summer officially sets sail? Our brains shift to summer mode.
It’s like suddenly every person is off the leash, running like crazy to get as much activity and outdoor time in as possible while the gettin’s good. Kids are running around, biking, playing, and swimming. Adults are either doing the same, chasing those kids, or doing the adult version of running around - to festivals, sporting events, or traveling the globe.
It’s nuts, I tell you.
But also great.
However, as fun as summer is, the stakes behind the scenes are high.
Before we get carried away with all of summer’s activities, I’m inviting you into my Summer Huddle, where there are two things on the agenda:
1. Staying safe and making sure those around us stay safe too.
2.Making the most of these beautiful, sunny days.
How to accomplish 1 & 2?
We need to slow down long enough to take a breath, and realize that even while we’re out having the time of our lives, we still need to take care of ourselves and watch out for the other guy, too. (Kids running around, bikers, cyclists, swimmers, etc.)
We just need to add common sense and a little bit of pause to the frenzy of the season. (Be careful when grilling… that kind of thing.)
And let’s not forget to really enjoy the moments of summer - savor them, because as we know … summer goes way too fast.
Okay, huddle time is over.
Moving on to some fun stuff.
I’ve got some summer announcements below for all, and then some special summer links for paid subscribers.
Break!
Abbey
Letting you know that the Thursday and Saturday newsletters will look a little different for summer.
Watch for a new feature on Thursdays - Who I’d Rather Be Talking About where I interview real people from around the world doing amazing things.
On Saturdays, you’ll still get special bonus links, but also travel capsules and a look at how people live their lives around the world. (With pics from my upcoming and soon-to-be revealed travels.)
Plus, I’m aiming to have a podcast feature in place by mid-summer. Watch for that.
Thank you for reading this far, and for coming back week after week! I appreciate you!