You can't expect spring-time breezes to last all summer, but the other day I was relieved to feel such a breeze on a day that was expected to be hot. My camping spot is on what you could call a peninsular knob that sticks out from the side of a mountain, and seems to hang out over steep slopes. Thus it is exposed to wind as well as a good view.
A cool breeze at the same time as warm, dry, sunny air. It is quite a pleasure to feel pain and pleasure at the same time, just as you do in winter with simultaneous chilly, calm air and a warming, early morning sun.
Ahh how fine this is, I thought at the time, and slowed down on our dog walk to take it all in. This is one of the best things you could experience in the outdoors. But it was troubling to experience it in a too sedate way.
There are temperaments that are content to put bland, sugary, Heinz ketchup on their hash browns at breakfast. Other people want tabasco sauce.
It seemed to dishonor the occasion of this freshening breeze to experience it mildly. What should I do? Can you make yourself like something more than you actually do?
I don't think you can. The human 'soul' resents coercion. It will just rebel against the imposition of likes or dislikes by yourself and even more, from somebody else. It will just rebel or sabotage the imposition.
Imagine the human soul as a battery of pain and pleasure, abundance and shortage, that is always charging or discharging. The tourism industry wants you to discharge all the way down to 98.3% full, and call it an 'adventure.' But a good camper/outdoorsman is more like a deep-cycle battery that discharges down to, say, 50% full.
All I have to do to experience the freshening breeze more intensely is to be courageous and tolerant with the hottest days of summer, even to the point of visualizing them as Noble Suffering or as a 'religious experience' a la William James [*], and patiently watch the soul-battery sink to 50% full, seeing a great drama in its apparent defeat. Then, the same breeze will blast it up towards 100% full -- and it will all seem effortlessly zestful.
* For those not familiar with Gutenberg.org, a pertinent book by William James is available free for download, there.
Comments
Your description of the shade from the live oaks in FL reminded of that company that makes the screens for sealing off your entire porch from bugs. A lovely product and lifestyle. The company is based in FL I think.