Month: July 2025

Shedding Light on the Dog Days of Summer

Welcome to the “dog days” of summer, the time of year when heat and humidity force many of us indoors. As a Floridian, I think of this season as our winter. Some of us estivate in our air-conditioned homes and only come out to buy groceries or take the trash out. That is, unless we need to walk a dog.

Until recently I associated the phrase “dog days of summer” with the time of year when dogs pant more frequently and lie down more often. Dogs feel the heat just like their humans. But instead of sweating, our furry friends cool themselves by panting. When dogs inhale and exhale rapidly, the evaporation of water allows them to cool their body from the inside out. Dog owners know that they need to supply plenty of fresh water and shade to keep their pet from overheating.

Actually the phrase “dog days of summer” has nothing to do with the habits of dogs. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac the “dog days” begin in the Northern Hemisphere on July 3, and last for forty days until August 11. (Unless you live in Florida, where the “dog days” seem to last until October.)

The phrase originated with the ancient Greeks, who discovered the rise of the Sirius star in the summer. The name Sirius stems from the Greek word “Seirious,” which means scorching or glowing. Sirius is part of the constellation Canis Majoris (the Greater Dog) and is the brightest star in the night sky. The Romans nicknamed Sirius the Dog Star, which led to referring to the hottest part of the summer as the “dog days”. The phrase stuck.

The ancient Greeks and Romans thought Sirius emitted heat and contributed to the rise in temperature during the summer. The Egyptians correlated the flooding of the Nile River with the “dog days.” Sirius became a “watchdog” for this weather event. No matter how you look at it, summer ushered in a time of extreme weather conditions. The Romans saw the rise of Sirius as a bad omen, responsible for drought, disease, discomfort, and insanity. They even went so far as to sacrifice dogs in hope of appeasing the Dog Star. Excuse my pun, but might that be a hot dog?

The ancients didn’t understand that the “dog days” are caused by earth’s orbit around the Sun. Remember our general science class where we learned that the northern hemisphere receives the most direct angle of sunlight in the summer? Soon after the June twentieth summer solstice, the North Pole is at its maximum tilt toward the Sun which makes our days longer and hotter. Sirius is hotter than the Sun, but it does not affect our weather because it’s further away—8.6 light years from Earth. 

Whew! I feel better knowing this uncomfortable season was not named after man’s best friend. Aren’t you thankful we live in the year 2025? During our “dog days” we can run to the comfort of air-conditioning and take Fido with us.  

Seeking A Life of Simplicity

What does it mean to simplify? Consuming natural foods? Downsizing your possessions? Saying no to those who make demands on your time? All of these actions can contribute to less stress, better health, and greater happiness.

Throughout history many writers and teachers have voiced the importance of living simply. The ancient Greek philosopher Democritus (460-370 B.C.) wrote “Let your occupations be few, if you would lead a tranquil life.” Jesus taught that we should trust God and not get caught up in the busyness of life. Thoreau believed spending time in nature is the key to a life with less anxiety. By listening to all of these different voices, we can conclude that living simply is the way to find peace, happiness, and a closer relationship with God.

I’m sure we can all remember simpler times in our lives. As children, we occupied ourselves with play and our worries were few. We relied upon our parents to meet most of our needs. Later life became more complicated when we joined the workforce in order to make a living. Even so, the technological advances of the past fifty years made our jobs easier, not more difficult.

Today’s modern conveniences make it possible to spend less time on household chores compared to our parents and grandparents. One would think we would be the most contented people who ever lived. Instead many of us feel frazzled and exhausted from trying to keep up with our busy calendar. Could it be that we have too many choices to make regarding how to spend our free time?

When I retired from teaching I felt unmoored. I needed to do something meaningful to fill my day. Once I expressed my feelings to a friend. He said, “There are many things you could do, but only pursue one thing.” At the time I’m not sure he was aware of the significance of his words. His suggestion opened my eyes to the truth about myself. I wanted to write, and I’ve been writing ever since. Hence, the founding of this blog in 2016.

Now I live in a retirement community and I am surprised at the schedule of activities which are offered. We have fitness classes, trips, chef’s demos, lectures, drop-in-bridge, ice cream socials, and shuffleboard! Yet, here I am— sitting at my laptop, banging on the keys.

But I am as happy as a clam because I’ve said yes to the “one thing.”

If you feel pulled in many directions and can’t seem to find a moment’s peace, stop and ask yourself, “How can I best spend my time in a way that brings purpose to my life and also encourages others?”

Then start doing it!