Summer Recess

by Joy Jones

It's summertime and school's out. What are you going to do with your summer recess? A lot of people will tell you this is the ideal time to go to school yourself, take a professional development course, plan for the upcoming school year, or clean out all the closets in your house.

Don't do any of that stuff. Well, let me clarify. What I want to say is - don't make "doing" the priority, make your priority "being." At the risk of sounding like a new-age airhead, I'd like to recommend resting. Repose, relaxation, and doing nothing are all honorable states.

Our western culture values anything that's action-packed. If something can be made to go faster then it must be better. People pay good money to take time management courses because they have so many things to do. Multi-tasking has become a way of life.

However, I say resting is just as important as any of these other skills. Sufficient rest is the foundation for any activity. Life has an alternating cycle of daylight and moonlight, rest and activity, business and stillness. We need to respect both sides of life's symmetry. The very word 'recess' gives us a clue about how important resting is. Recess has two meanings. It means to take a break but it also means a secret, inner or hidden place. Each of us has a hidden inner place that needs renewing on a regular basis. Being quiet, sitting still, honoring a time and place for peace and leisure help to keep that core centered and grounded. Many of us run with only one side of the equation and thus become emotionally lopsided, burned out, even dangerous.

This summer, give yourself a valuable gift - nothing. Make space to relax. It's time for recess.

Debbie/PA/1 asked: Any good books to read for pleasure? I have lots of resource books to read, but want to take a break for a little while. I purchased Ya Ya yesterday, but my daughter took it to read on a trip. I will read it later. I am presently reading Harry Potter 1st book. I had started it about 4 times and only got through the first chapter. This time I made up my mind to read more and have really gotten into it. I also bought A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer and One Child by Torey Hayden. I read Ghost Girl by Torey Hayden this school year (usually don't read much for pleasure during school time) and I couldn't put it down.

Responses:

The teachers at our school have formed a book club. Each month we read a book just for enjoyment. Then we take turns meeting at one or our houses for dinner and a book discussion. Sometimes we go out to eat or if the book is a movie we will rent it or go the the theaters (like we did for the Ya Ya's) Here is a partial list of some of the books we have read in the past 2 years:

• The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
• Snow Falling on Cedars
• Gone With the Wind
• One For the Money
• The Persian Pickle Club
• Left Behind
• The Red Tent
• Catfish and Mandala

I also bought A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer. You should have gotten the two follow-ups: The Lost Boy and A Man Called Dave. I read them all two years ago and couldn't stop crying. When you start TheChild Called It , you will understand why you have to get all three.

A friend recommended the Harry Potter books to me. She said they were just fun reading. I am now reading Second Draft of My Life by Sara Lewis. It is pretty funny so far. I am enjoying it.

Want some good summer reading? Summer Sisters by Judy Blume (yes, for adults). :) I'm also a big Anne Tyler and Margaret Atwood fan. And, Wally Lamb... She's Come Undone and I Know This Much is True.

I agree, Summer Sisters is a great book. Also LaVyrle Spencer is a great romance author. They are not the cheesy type of romance books. Every summer I read about 4 of her books!

I read "A Child Called It" and the sequels - "The Lost Boy" and "A Man Named Dave"....I couldn't put them down...so compelling and shocking. "One Child" and the sequel "The Tiger's Child" are incredible books...entertaining and relatable because the author is a teacher. I recommend all of these books to anyone and everyone.

I've recently discovered Dean Koontz's novels. I *love* FROM THE CORNER OF HIS EYE and am currently about half way through ONE DOOR AWAY FROM HEAVEN. I also like John Saul and am looking forward to starting his newest, MIDNIGHT VOICES.

I've read all of Torey Hayden's books--they are fascinating. I actually read them before I became a teacher. They made me curious about teaching special ed and now here I am.

I'll be reading my favorite author once again - Jane Austen! Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility are her best.

I am reading Second Draft of My Life. I also laugh out loud. She does have first grade down to a T. I can also relate to her descriptions of the teacher's lounge.

Judy Blume also has a few other adult books Wifey - pretty good, and I just finished Smart Women- OK but not as good as the other two.

I am reading Beach Music, by Pat Conroy (author of The Prince of Tides). I am about a third of the way through it but it is an easy read with a lot of twists and turns.

Personally I loved The Outlander books.

In the past two days I have read two books -- Face the Fire, by Nora Roberts. This is the third in her Three Sisters Trilogy, which is just pure easy-reading fantasy. I just now finished The English Assassin, by Daniel Silva.I'm looking for something as wonderful as The Red Tent was.

I love Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books. They are very humorous & I find myself laughing out loud. They all start with a number - One for the Money, etc. I am currently listening to Seven Up on tape & the neighbors must think I've cracked up as I chuckle while doing the yard work while listening.

Barbara D'Amato is another detective/mystery writer and I love her Cat Marsala series--all about Chicago. Marcia Muller is yet another author I really like.

Any of the Prey series by John Sanford if you like mystery/investigation. I started last summer with the first in the series and have read all of them now. Other authors I enjoy: Barbara Dekinsky, Catherine Coulter, and Iris Johansen. My next book to read is A beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar, then I will watch the movie.

Thanks for sharing the book lists. I got some great new authors from doing this last year. Someone from the ring suggested keeping titles and authors in an address book. I made one last summer and it has really helped me when I make a trip to the library or book store. By the way I teach school with one of the YaYa's daughters! I loved the book, but haven't seen the movie. I am not a big Nora Roberts fan, but absolutely loved the Three Sisters Island trilogy, Dance Upon Air, Heaven and Earth, and Face the Fire.