Childhood Memories

We all have certain things that remind us of our childhood.  One of mine is sun tea. 

Orange Blossom Hibiscus Sun Tea

I don't remember drinking flavored tea as a child but I do remember laying out in the backyard sipping on my mom's iced tea or iced coffee.  Summers in Michigan were wonderful.  You just had to spend the entire day outside enjoying the warmth of the sun.  Iced Tea Days were savored and remembered because they were as simple as they were rare.

As a child, I don't remember ever contemplating what I was going to do on one of those days.  I just played, laid around and felt comfortable at home.  Now, as an adult, I find myself always having to do something on the weekends.  My husband and I talk about where we should go, what we should do, etc.  Always moving.  Never being still. 

I do not have ADD so that's not it.  I guess that I just hate the idea of wasting time.  But, why is it that I feel sitting at home and doing nothing is wasting time?  Isn't being still just as important as being productive?  Don't we need down-time as much as we need to be active?

It's about balance and accepting where we are in life.  Sometimes, we need to sit still in order to move forward.  We learn about ourselves during these quiet times at home.  As I reflect back on those summer days in Michigan, I remember how wonderful my childhood was and how this contributed to my adult self.  All of my childhood experiences are important in this sense.  They made me who I am today.  This is why I really appreciate simple experiences such as drinking sun tea, playing in the sand, having a slumber party with my husband and swimming until my fingers get wrinkly.   

*I'm participating in the 2013 A to Z Challenge. Every day in April (except for Sundays) I will be posting according to a letter of the Alphabet. To read more about my theme, click here.