September - The Second Happiest Time of Year.... Or Not?

So many parents look forward to the return of the school year.  I often think of the commercial where the parents are happily sailing through the back-to-school aisles on the edge of a cart singing to the Christmas tune, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year…”

In contrast, the children are trudging behind them with hanging heads sad to see the ho-hum, peaceful days of summer quickly drift away.

A field of Lavender

I don’t know about you, but I am with the kids on this one. To me, summer is a time of relaxation and peace. It has a do-what-you-want and move-at-your-own-pace mentality to it.

Conversely, the start of the school year has that go-go-go feel to it. The best analogy I can use is that of a river. Summer is like the slow-moving languid wide parts of this body of water. It is peaceful, calm and restorative to the spirit.

The start of the school year is similar to the narrows of the river rapids. It’s when the speed of the water picks up its pace and appears to take on a life all its own. If you have ever bee rafting or canoeing through rapids you know you really have no control over where that boat goes. You are at the mercy of the current. Where it goes, you go to – for better or worse.

That is how I feel at the beginning of a new school year. It’s a time where peace and tranquility meet absolute pandemonium.

In order to navigate this hectic time, I turn to one of my very favorite essential oils – lavender.

Lavender is an oil that has been used for many reasons because of cleaning and healthful properties.  It is one of the most popular and used of the essential oils. Lavender is steam distilled from the flowering tops of plants. DōTerra Lavender is steam distilled from the flowering tops of plants from France (fine high altitude) and Bulgaria (super high altitude).  These are joined together in equal ratios.

Because of this special blending, Lavender is a powerful elixir for the mind, body and soul. Some of its most common uses include: 

Sleep support – Putting lavender drops on their pillows works like magic. It will help ease your mind, calm you down, and assist with a restful .

Burn and wound aid - Because of the gentle properties of Lavender it can be applied topically on even some of the most sensitive of skin.  Topical application to burns, minor cuts, and bruises almost always produces successful results.   

Stress relief - By using a diffuser this same soothing aroma can help with stress or other mental strain with adults and children.  

Skin repair - When you’ve slightly overdone it in the sun, a little lavender oil is helpful in preventing peeling skin. It aids in your skin’s healing without scarring as well.

Laundry cleaning - Energize your linens with lovely smelling lavender.  It leaves no oil marks and leaves things invigoratingly fresh

Lavender is most commonly used topically, added to bath water or diffused in the air. However you choose to use lavender, be assured it will assist you as you make the transition between the calm of summer and the energetic pace of the fall.