ARTICLE
Can you believe it? Summer is almost here. I’m not a big fan of winter. I need to feel the warmth of the beautiful spring sun. Growing up, I always loved summer. There was nothing like that feeling you got at the end of the school year. I loved the smell of the classroom when the fresh air blew into the open windows in those last few weeks of school. There was no such thing as air-conditioned schools back then. Yet the teachers were happy and the students were even happier. No doubt we were ready for summer vacation! It was like a right of passage. We made it through the cold winter, the varied sports seasons, the exams and the hundreds of cafeteria lunches. It was time for well-deserved fun. When you’re young, the school year seems like an eternity and, to me, it sure did. When I was in grade school, it was the nuns I’d grown to love over the year. Later, as our entire brood of seven transitioned to public school, it was the teachers. I wasn’t a great student, but I knew the teachers had our best interest at heart. Tough love was just that — tough. But it was for your own good. The teachers wanted to do everything they could to make sure that we’d grow up to be a credit to our community, learned right from wrong and respected authority. It was a recipe that made for great leaders, great citizens and a great country. Once summer hit, I’d hustle to my local playground for softball, basketball, crafts, romper day and just plain summer fun. Kids from all across the neighborhood flocked to the playground and played all day long. It was heaven. Allentown’s summer playground program made my world an amazing place, and I loved every minute of it. At noon, we’d all hustle back home for the lunch that my mom prepared for us. It wasn’t the healthy stuff we eat today. It was a summer baloney sandwich with mayo and chips that tasted as good as any high-end restaurant meal I eat nowadays. Like many back then, my mom stayed at home. She had a huge impact on my life. She had an amazing sense of humor and dedicated her life to her family. She laid the law down when necessary, and we respected her for it. Nobody wanted any bad reports getting to my dad when he got home. That never ended well. Allentown’s summer playground program made my world an amazing place, and I loved every minute of it. After lunch, I was off to the local public pool. We had a million friends there, and it was all about swimming, hanging with friends, snow cones, pretzel sticks and a well-earned sunburn. You see, back then sunscreen was unknown. So we used a little Coppertone (still love that smell) and hoped for the best. The day usually ended with me sleeping with a fan directly pointed at my sunburned body. I know it’s odd, but to me that meant summer had officially begun. So here’s my point. We’re all moving at a breakneck pace and driving hard to succeed. For the most part, we’re connected 24/7 and our goals are constantly before us. And in this 21st century, there is no coasting. You’re either evolving, growing and pushing forward or you’re left behind. Loving your work, as I do, can be a challenge. It’s important never to lose sight of what is really important in life, our health and the people we love. So I say let the kid out. Let’s take time to play golf, run in the park, ride our bikes, hike the trails and generally make ourselves smile. Let’s laugh with friends, vacation with family, enjoy community festivals and just plain live life. Unlike when we were young, time doesn’t move slowly anymore. It moves at a rapid speed. A full life includes challenges, heartache and setbacks. But don’t forget a full life deserves laughter, love and great joy. A happy person is likely a successful person, and nobody can rob us of our joy. But our kids, our partners, our friends and our associates can sense our happiness and they find it contagious. Happiness makes our world and our community a better place. I don’t care if you’re a doctor, a lawyer, a CEO or a whatever, you’re a kid at heart. You wanna laugh, you wanna play, you wanna eat ice cream and you wanna jump off the high dive. So my advice, let the kid out. Let the kid inside you soak in the warm sun, smell the fresh air and enjoy that first burn of the summer. That kid gets your responsibilities and obligations. But he or she knows the playground is not far away, and it’s really fun … remember? Tony Iannelli is president and CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at tonyi@lehighvalleychamber.org. Copyright © 2018, Lehigh Valley Business Cycle Read the original article here.