Busy Summers & Finding Time For The Soul
All of a sudden, it’s the middle of July—the height of summer for us Northern Hemisphere humans—and it seems like it’s full-on everything.
Days spent running in all directions,
activity to activity
drop-offs & pick-ups
work & dentist appointments
farm stands & grocery stores
swimming holes & camps & all the places
We’re elbow-deep in craft supplies, projects, & play-doh, stumbling over hot wheels and half-finished Lego sets, trying (& failing) to keep the dirty feet and PB&J smudges from taking over the house.
Meanwhile,
time alone is a figment of our imaginations
quiet morning reading is something else entirely
yoga mats sit untouched
exercise routines squeeze into the smallest corners of our calendars
evening hours fill with baseball games, dinners with friends, extra time at the lake
This is summer.
Sweet in so many ways, extra-full on so many fronts, contentment and gratitude ripe for the picking, often in firehose quantities. Yet it’s harder than ever to find time for nourishing our souls.
Here’s what I recommend ⤵
Dropping a few balls
Extra watermelon & strawberries all around
Letting Libro.fm read a few good books to you
Setting up something soul-filling to look forward to when things slow down—right there at home or, of course, I’d love to have you here in Maine with me at my fall retreat
Here’s what’s keeping me afloat right now ⤵
#1 — Sneaking into the woods for 10-minute walks with my favorite audio actor Julia Whelan reading Tara Westover’s gorgeous memoir Educated in my earbuds
#2 — Using car time to listen to Yvon Chouinard’s mind-blowing story about starting Patagonia and keeping it socially responsible and a badass world-changing business
#3 — Letting myself feel really, deeply happy about the beautiful little things all around me
deep breaths
clean air
bright green trees
smiling faces
camping trips
hiking with girlfriends
piles of art projects in kids’ rooms
coffee dates with my people
starting to buy school supplies for a new school year ( & launching one kid into college & an unexpected return to homeschooling for the other—eek!!)
so many beautiful, quirky, independent bookshops to visit
& so many ways to support those small bookshops with my reading habit even when I’m not traveling (Want to know a little more about this? Here’s why I switched to Libro.fm from Audible & Here’s why I switched to Bookshop.org from Amazon)
Come retreat with me in Maine this October!
Find creative inspiration and a personal reset
Explore the ocean paths and mountains of Acadia & Bar Harbor
Connect with like-minded women in a small group environment
Journal & paint with watercolors as creative expression
Learn techniques for personal growth
Enjoy a weekend of healthy cuisine & outdoor exploration
Engage in intentional daily practices
Ground, clarify, visualize, rejuvenate, & spark creativity
Make new friends
Create bonds that will last well beyond our time together
Find joy, play, laugh, slow down, & have fun
Soak up the beauty of Maine!