Estrus is radiating downward on me this morning time, the warmth of the summertime sun. Spring didn't last long hither, and information technology's already almost 80, just after sunrise. I can feel the warmth on my peel as I absorb my Vitamin D in the brilliant red Adirondack chair hither on the dorsum patio. Squinting from the brightness, I can barely make out the screen on my iPad with all the reflections around me. I'yard ever grateful when winter leaves and summertime arrives.

My friend Richard Saul Wurman, founder of the TED conferences, once told me that nosotros should program our lives based on how many summers we have left. Summer is, afterward all, the time most of the states take time for ourselves and our family unit, have holiday, and spend our time doing the things we love. Though no i is always certain how much time there is, he based his remaining summers on the average lifespan of a man.

A Magic Trigger

Something magical happens to trigger something inside us when we think in terms of summers. Some may have iii or five left, others fewer, and still others have more. Yet even if you're 30, yous take only 48 summers left. If you're 60, you lot take 19 left. Someone built-in in 2017 will get 79 summers. Somehow this puts things in perspective.

Busy Winters

I spend a lot of my winter "crouch down" months looking forrard to summers, when Laurie and I don't have to wake up at half-dozen:45 to get the kids off to schoolhouse, and when nosotros tin can all spend our time playing. Though I work all summer, other than my painting camps and a week off with the family, absolutely, I sneak out early and go in late about of the summer.

Remember those last few weeks of school, when you could hardly wait till school got out? Information technology seemed like the final two weeks were every bit long every bit the whole schoolhouse twelvemonth.

What Could Accept Been

Every bit a teen I used to expect at myself in the mirror and think nigh what I might await similar equally I age, thinking I had plenty of time. And at present I look in the mirror and see someone I don't recognize, and realize that every moment counts. I wish I had taken the "every moment counts" mental attitude to life when I was 20. I wonder what might have been if I had understood then what I empathize now, nevertheless I can't look back with regret. I need to accept where I am today and change what I don't similar. And, as you lot probably know, I am opposed to self-talk about aging, and I operate equally though I'll live forever. Who knows, some tech gurus say that is coming, with 3D-printed hearts and the ability to transfer the contents of 1 encephalon to some other.

Much to Go Done

My prayer this forenoon included a request to help me get done what needs to go done to help the nearly people possible. I'm not asking for more time, but I'm extremely focused on achieving my goals. 1 of my goals is to teach a million people to paint because painting changes lives — and I'm working on something that, if it works, volition give me a reach of 24 one thousand thousand people next year. And at the Plein Air Convention, I had over 200 attendees stand up when I asked for volunteers to teach painting to veterans in their boondocks. Therefore, the PleinAirForce Veterans Squadron will presently be helping hundreds of veterans, some PTSD victims, past teaching them to paint.

1 of my goals was getting a new book done to help artists discover means they can brand a living and live their dreams — and if I didn't mention it before, we already hit #i bestseller on Amazon in two different categories.

Releasing the Brain Muscle

One of the things I honey about summer is the release of the brain muscle. It's tight all twelvemonth, jammed with projects, workload, and stress, and summer provides a chance to end squeezing that muscle at that level and permit new ideas to float in at a leisurely pace. Walks through the forest, painting by magnificent waterfalls, floating on a lake — it can all play an important role.

Time off is important work time, something most people don't fully get. When my team members have one calendar week off, then a week later on at another fourth dimension, I don't feel like they are fully relaxing. It takes me a full week to come down from my decorated life. That second week is when the magic happens.

26 Weeks of Vacation

I one time met a billionaire who told me he works 26 weeks a year and takes the other half of the year off. When I asked how he could mayhap be productive, he told me he was more than productive and more focused in the weeks he was working because he'd given his listen a remainder. Another fellow CEO just told me the same at a recent mastermind meeting. Who knows, maybe I'll try information technology one day.

In merely a couple of weeks, my kids will be out for the summer, and a new affiliate for the year begins.

I'm looking frontwards to it as a reset button in my life. Time to get grounded, time to think, time to play, to sleep, and to give my busy little brain a rest. I hope y'all'll practise the same.

How many summers do y'all accept left?

What bucket list items need to get washed so you tin can bank check that box? I've always wanted to get to Africa , so I'll exist taking a group in that location in the fall. The Canadian Rockies , Banff, and Lake Louise are on my bucket list, and I'm taking a group there besides. And because I can't get enough fine art, I'm taking a group behind the scenes in Italy .

I recall back to my friends who accept dreams they keep putting off. Then, similar lightning, some disquiet stikes and their chance of doing those things has vaporized forever.

Where is your summer bucket list?

What do you need to get done in your remaining summers?

Throughout my life I've always found barriers like coin, fourth dimension, obligations — notwithstanding if you lot want something badly enough, you'll observe a style to remove those barriers.

Since summer is right effectually the corner: What will you do? If y'all learned that this is your last summer, what would y'all get done that you've kept putting off? Sadly, it will be the last for some. My dear friend Sean, a stroke victim, had dreams he never fulfilled because he did not want to spend the time or the money, and at present he is trapped in his trunk in a hospital, unable to move or speak, with very little promise of any quality of life. I call up he would dear me reminding you that at present is the fourth dimension. Never put annihilation off.

Hither's to making this your best summer nevertheless.


Eric Rhoads

PS: Months ago I wrote most my kids' desire to talk united states of america into getting a dog . And so I wrote about how we adopted a senior dog, Tucker. This weekend we are mourning his passing from cancer. Nosotros gave him v amazing months of a great life. The house is serenity, and we miss him. Nosotros're all pretty upset, but the kids are actually having a hard time with information technology. We would appreciate if y'all keep united states of america in your prayers. We go shut to our faminals (animate being family members) and losing them isn't easy, no matter how much we knew information technology was coming.