When I hear the word ‘summer’ the only thing that comes to mind is the vacation, the getaway, the peace of mind and serenity that comes with it. Now, a break from life in Abu Dhabi doesn’t seem like the perfect getaway, with the sun shining at it’s brightest, and it’s heat draining us at the speed of light. I picture it on the shores of the island of Seychelles, listening to the sound of the waves as they hit the shore, surrounded by every color you can imagine, with nothing but the taste of harmony on my lips, with nothing occupying my thoughts, no one to answer to or worry about; bliss.

Summer means so many things to so many different people, it can be a word that reminds you of the weather or a past memory, it can be tied to a future dream. It can fill you up with the dread of facing the coming days or maybe excitement to discover what you’re ignorant of. It can mean spending more time with family members who haven’t seen so much of you lately, or it can mean extra work to achieve a certain goal. To some it can mean absolutely nothing.

‘Summer’ to me means so much more than a plane ticket out of the UAE. It means letting go of all the negativity that I’ve kept in, and basking in a bath of positivity. It means giving myself the time to look back upon the past seasons and stripping the lessons learnt and placing them on a pedestal. It means giving myself the attention and love I’ve been deprived of due to busy schedules and deadlines, waking up to a morning of nothingness with countless hours ahead of me to do as I please. It’s a breath of fresh air; stepping outside after being indoors for so long.

What does ‘summer’ mean to you? What pictures do you draw in your mind? Let the rays of the sun fill your life with all that’s beautiful this summer. Do something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t done yet. Make that change you’ve found it so hard to adapt to or accept. Take that trip you deserve but never found the time to fit into your schedule. Picture it. Embrace it. Let it flow through you. Just do it!