​COUNTDOWN TO SUMMER!

Summer is almost here and that means that we can finally start the countdown. I mean, I spend all year waiting for this season (as you already know)! But first, there are some exciting days approaching at the end of this month that deserve a mention.

Saturday May 27^th is Sun Screen Day! Now that we’re heading into summer, there’s no better time to bring awareness about the importance of wearing sunscreen to protect against the sun’s damaging UV rays. We tend to think that on a cloudy day we don’t need protection but in fact, the ozone layer is so depleted that the rays can still do damage even when we think we are safe. So, as we say in Australia: Slip (on a shirt), Slop (on sunscreen), Slap (on a hat)!

Memorial Day is on May 29^th, and it’s the day that we commemorate the men and women who have died while serving in our country’s military. For many of us, this day has personal significance. For others, we can make this day meaningful by attending a parade or ceremony, showing gratitude to our veterans with a card or flowers, visiting a cemetery to pay our respects, observing a moment of silence and a whole lot more. Most importantly, we should acknowledge this day and teach our children about its importance.

Memorial Day is also the unofficial start of summer! So this is when things get really serious. And by serious I mean that it’s time to break out the barbecue, swimwear, flip-flops, beach towel, sunscreen and your summer spirit!

Then we have Water a Flower Day on May 30^th which is a reminder to water our flowers because they too need hydration! Of course we need to water them more than once a year, but it’s still good to have a reminder to take care of our plants and flowers. They provide us with so much life, beauty and color- but only if we look after them!

And finally, May 31^st is World No Tobacco Day to bring awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and its addictive nature. It’s a gentle but important reminder for our loved ones to quit smoking. We forget that smoking doesn’t only affect the smoker, but also anyone who is exposed to the toxic chemicals in the tobacco smoke.

So, if we can take some pointers from these days leading us into the summer months, I think we’ll be in for a very satisfying, healthy, and fun-filled season!