ROL: Happy Birthday.

Today's post appears through the magic of scheduling. I am taking a couple of days off the grid. It is my habit to respond to every comment. I will respond, it may just take a few days.

ROL (return on life) is about making small changes in attitude or action that can produce a significant increase in QOL (quality of life). This week's ROL is about our planet.

source: morgueFile

Hayom Harart Olam.

Today the world was created.

From: Roshana/High Holiday Liturgy

Today, I will be joining the rest of the worldwide Jewish community in celebrating Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. One of the themes of Rosh Hashana is a divine annual review with the potential annual bonus, another year of plenty. Not receiving the divine bonus comes with likely severe consequences. Given these circumstances Rosh Hashana is significantly more low-key than secular New Year celebrations. Another theme of Rosh Hashana is the commemoration of the creation of the world. Happy Birthday, Planet Earth.

I think this creation of the world is something everyone can celebrate. Both Christianity and Islam recognize Judaism as their theological progenitor. For atheists, agnostics and other proponents of "Big Bang Theory", well, today is just as good as any other day. As to the many other theologies I fail to encompass, I apologize but just go with it, okay? I don't suggest celebration in the same green theme manner of Earth Day. I'm in favor of a day to pay mind to conservation of Earth's limited resources, so way to go Earth Day. But for today, Earth's birthday is the subject matter.

Take a moment, look around and drink in Earth's majesty. Have ideas for making Earth better? That's for Earth Day. Today is for acknowledgement and enjoyment. If you're in the northern 1/2 of the northern hemisphere, look at the vibrant autumn colors as the foliage acknowledges the approaching winter.  If you're in the southern hemisphere close your eyes and imagine the oncoming summer. If you can do neither, there's always the internet, but don't forgo the birthday celebration. Do you have some ideas for celebrating Earth?  

Summer Solstice.

Today is the 1st day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Officially it's the Summer Solstice. Many say this is the longest day of the year and they're all wrong. Days are 24 hours along (approx) every day of the year. The Summer Solstice is the day with the more daylight than any other day of the year. Today there will be 15 hours, 16 minutes and 28 seconds of daylight. That's 2 more seconds of daylight than yesterday or tomorrow. It may not sound like much but those 2 seconds become more than 2 seconds and add up quickly. By December those 15 hours 16 minutes 28 seconds of daylight will become 9 hours 5 minutes 10seconds of daylight. 6+ hours of less daylight is significant.

It's been great this month going outside after 8 PM with the sky still light.  July 4th fireworks will wait until after 9 PM to make sure the sky is completely dark.  Soon enough, though the sky will be dark at 7:30 PM, 7 PM and even earlier.  So no matter how grand the Summer Solstice may be it has a melancholy lining. It's a warning that the daylight party is coming to an end.  There is still lots of really really good. Evening barbeques,
backyard firepits and glorious late summer/early fall afternoons. Still, the Summer Solstice warns us that soon enough the cold winter nights will be here. Don't overlook a minute of those long summer days.

I know that I have already reached my Summer Solstice. Whether I'm between July 4th and Labor Day or between Labor Day and Halloween is unknown. I hope I'm not yet close to Thanksgiving or Christmas. I still have too much left to accomplish, too much left I want to experience. For me the Summer Solstice is a reminder reminder to cherish every day. It's important I make every day count. Not only must I recognize each ray of sunshine, I must seek out those rays of sunshine. Whether I like it or not Winter will find me. Winter is always a bit easier with great summer memories.