The scorching sun and sweltering humidity cause the temperature to rise and tempers to fl are. Trapped in the blistering urban oven, our thoughts turn to cool temptations. To walk in the mist of a pine forest and smell the fresh flowers, to touch the wispy clouds as they drift by the mountains, to plunge into the azure sea and float on the rolling waves.

To stand under a waterfall of cool spring water and wade around the crystal-clear stream. To stroll along a white powdery beach and pick tiny shells. To laze under palm fronds, sip icy coconut juice or a frozen shake, and gaze at the swirling kites in the cobalt sky.

The pace of life has been accelerating since the long lockdown ended. From the eerie silent stillness to a slowly rising tempo to a frantic frenzy. Unnerving and distracting.

Fast forward and upward. Hurtling to the future, we often miss the essential things. We do not have time to pause long enough to savor life.

All we see are the four walls of the office, conference rooms, hallways, and more walls at home. Our reading materials consist of online financial statements, hard copies of annual reports, schedules, ledgers, official letters, and countless e-mails. We are preoccupied with deadlines, accounts, interest rates, market charts, analyses, surveys.

There are many things to read that are urgent and others that are not important. We downsize to save resources and deal with clutter and details. Rushing back between Zoom meetings, live receptions, and socio-civi.