Summer is winding down and I hope you’ve taken time to enjoy this wonderful season. Although I love all four seasons, I must admit, summer is my favorite. Everything slows down in summer, school is out and some of that rush-rush-rush mentality eases a bit.

For those of us in the helping professions—teachers, social workers, sociotherapists, nurses—our work requires that we respond to human needs at a more intense level than the general public. Making a positive difference in the lives of others is what we try to do every day. The work we do is very rewarding, however it is also emotionally demanding. Balancing the care of others with care of self is particularly important for those in the helping professions. It is essential that we take time to relax and rejuvenate ourselves, to help us maintain our energy and enthusiasm for this important work

Vacations are a great way to rejuvenate. I had the opportunity to spend a week at the ocean this summer with my family—just getting away and doing nothing but sleeping, eating, swimming, and reading for a week was extremely restful and rejuvenating for me.
I don’t know what kind of summer you have had, but I hope you have taken some time off. Even if you can’t get away on vacation, take time to swing in a hammock, drink a glass of lemonade, look up at the stars, listen to the crickets and just enjoy these last weeks of summer. You deserve it, and your ability to do your work will be enhanced.