What a One-Month Summer Break Taught Me About Fear and Moving Forward

We’re back after taking a one-month break. That’s what summer does, it naturally leads you into a pause. A little because of the heat, a little because of the exhaustion built up over the entire winter, it draws you away from your usual routine.

Personally, that completely throws me off because I love being active. Either way, we’re truly happy to be back here with all of you. During this past month, we had the time to explore, to talk, to reflect, to find solutions, to leave some matters open for later, and to simply allow time to take care of others. Family moments have a way of healing many of these things while adding a little extra flavor to life's beautiful moments.

In general, the heat has a tendency to slow people down, making them more inactive and laid-back. That affects me more than most because I’m the complete opposite of laid-back. In fact, what’s the opposite word? I enjoy action. I like seeing things happening. Here in Greece, from the end of July, cities become almost deserted. And the islands aren’t always the best option either, since they become overcrowded. So, although people often accuse us here in the Mediterranean of being lazy, believe me with this kind of heat, it’s incredibly easy to fall into a summer hibernation and wake up sometime in September.

This pause helps not only the body but also the mind. It allows you to take a step back from your own world and realize that, while difficulties certainly exist, perhaps they aren’t always as overwhelming as they first appear. This pause taught me one important lesson: human inactivity is like quicksand. It pulls you deeper into fear. Movement is what helps you escape that sand and guides you toward solid ground.

If I could finish with one thought, it would be this:

Fear is part of being human, just as facing it is part of being human too.

How has your summer been so far? Have you reached any personal conclusions or learned something new about yourself?

We're back!

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If you read all the way to the end, thank you. We would genuinely love to hear your thoughts, memories, or feelings in the comments. And if you ever feel like writing to us more personally, you can always send us a letter at:

✉️ unplug.thrive@gmail.com

— Mary & Chris