How’s Your Summer Going?

How’s your summer going?

Have you had some cookouts?  Have you gotten to the beach, or splashed around in a pool or at least done a running belly-dive on a Slip N Slide?  Have you played Frisbee in the park? Gone for a long bike ride in the cool of the evening?  Gone to any festivals or fairs?  Rode any roller-coasters?

How are the kids?  Are you helping them make the most out of their time off from school?  In addition to having fun, and goofing off as much as possible, summer break is an opportunity to … *ack!* … learn or accomplish something.  Not that you’d ever want to suggest that overtly.

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Do you remember coming back to school after summer break and catching up with everyone? Most kids had a few stories to tell… some kids were the story.

I remember a kid – a fat kid – named Robert.  On the first day of 8th grade, everyone was utterly shocked to see that Robert wasn’t fat anymore!  His parents had sent him away to a hardcore weight loss camp and he dropped a ton of weight.  It was amazing.

Then there was John, who’d been a second string athlete; he went to wrestling camp over the summer and became a champion that year.

Cindy and her family spent a month in Europe.  She came back with an air of sophistication and an amusing English accent that lasted until Thanksgiving.

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In a few short weeks, summer will be winding down.  For some children (perhaps your own), that triggers pangs of anxiety.  Who wouldn’t be miserable at the prospect of being bullied, harassed, intimidated and ostracized?  And if they were having any of those problems last year, its a sure bet that they’ll be facing the same thing- or worse.  As a noted psychologist once said, “if nothing changes, things stay the same”.

Is your son or daughter dreading the first day of school? Wouldn’t it be great if they could walk through those big doors with their head high, smiling, and brimming with authentic confidence?

New clothes, a different haircut, even a foreign accent are fun for a while, but are meaningless over the long haul.  Genuine change comes from within – and it all starts with a simple decision, followed by action.

If you can find just 20 minutes a day, you can permanently bully-proof your child in two weeks or less.

Please.  While the days are still long and the sun is riding high across the sky, play catch, go to a concert, have a picnic and work on your tan.  And consider investing a little time in making this the most pivotally important summer of your child’s life.

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Tony Robbins advises his students to never leave the site of a decision without taking some small action towards its attainment.  Just click the link and I’ll see you on the other side.

Be Excellent!