It’s almost Summer Solstice,  Oh, my.  It did come very fast this year!

I found myself thinking a few days ago, Gosh. The days are way toooo long!  (By that I meant the days seemed to slip away — it still seemed like afternoon and it was almost 9 pm!  I had planned a leisurely evening, reading, relaxing, and the day was already nearly done.)  But then I was pulled up short when I realized that we were only days away from the longest day of the year.  Do things ever creep up on you that way?

Now that it’s upon us, what can we say about this annual turning?  Let’s reflect together on this one day when there is more light than on any other of the 364 days just past, or those yet to come?

What about asking one of the perennial questions:  What are we here for?  How are we using ourselves, or being used?  Just up, or for something?  I’ve been asking myself such questions and pondering the responses over the last several weeks as I have been working with Jean Houston’s course, Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose.  (I mentioned one exercise that was eye-opening for me in my recent blog: Myth Making and Personal Growth).  

Taking stock at 70+, I have decided that one cause I particularly want to focus on in the next months, years, decades… is educating girls — at home, yes, but particularly in developing countries. It is well documented that when you educate girls, extraordinary things happen:  a ripple of positive changes spreads out.  How do we end global poverty? Educate Girls!

“Research shows that an educated girl will marry later, have fewer children, and educate the children she does have – sons and daughters equally. She is more likely to avoid contracting HIV/AIDS, and less likely to be a victim of domestic violence. She’ll earn more money, and is more likely to become a community leader.”

But this is easier said than done.  Girls face huge barriers in many countries today.  I recently watched a powerful documentary called GirlRising.  The quote above is from a review of the film.  I highly recommend that you make every effort to see this doc.  I was touched, inspired, sobered, saddened, heartened, motivated, encouraged…   If you choose, you can add your support and encouragement here or here.  Educating girls works!  Educating girls is a way to really make a difference.

To close my Solstice musings, here’s a quote from George Bernard Shaw which inspires me as well.  I call it, Life is a Splendid Torch!  Shaw said,