School is out, summer has settled in full here in the south, and hurricane season is upon us once again. But, even so, it’s time for slower mornings, lazier afternoons and later evenings enjoying every minute of summer’s last light. And in the midst of all the slowing down and stepping back from our busy routines, there’s nothing like a splash of cool water to wake, refresh and energize.
What does your summer look like?
Maybe it’s not the picture of slow and lazy. Maybe you’re already feeling overwhelmed by a calendar packed full of more coming and going than one summer can hold. And maybe you’re thinking those summer projects you’ve been meaning to pull off the shelf will have to wait one more season because life just isn’t slowing its pace.
If this is you, it’s me too.
I find myself at the close of another busy school year with more on my plate than I’ve dished up in a long time. With closing on a new home last week and renovations underway, a speaking engagement out of the country in a couple of weeks, a women’s retreat commitment and the first wedding of one of my children, the agenda is getting fuller by the day.
I’m feeling the gravity of so many tasks threatening to squeeze out the slowing and lingering days of summer. And even in the excitement of so much good, I know that if I don’t make this slowing and lingering a priority, I’ll miss out on the best moments…the best gifts.
I realize I’m going to have to be intentional about setting aside pockets of time and splashes of soul-hope for energizing and refreshing. There are just too many good things happening, and I don’t want to miss out on any of it because I’m too overwhelmed or exhausted.
So I’m making a promise to myself.
I’m going to spend some time splashing in the things that make me happy, things that help me step away from the renovations, presentations and planning to find joy and rest in the things that awaken and energize my soul…like finishing my travel journal from that amazing trip to China last summer, scheduling those dance lessons to get ready for wedding fun and finding the perfect beach read to help me slow down, linger and exhale.
I’m going to find the splashes of white space between the numbered lines of my lists and step into the hidden places I feel my soul pulling me toward…
Where silence echoes words of hope and the solitary moments keep me grounded in my purpose.
Where laughter lightens the lists and welcomes gratitude in the midst of doing.
Where joy is cultivated in the margins and the exhales of rest invite inspiration.
I’m ready to splash around in flip-flops, sundresses, warm sand, and sweet tea!
AND I’M INVITING YOU TO JOIN ME BECAUSE IT’S ALWAYS MORE FUN SPLASHING TOGETHER!
Join me here, EACH FRIDAY for the next 6 WEEKS, and I promise you’ll leave feeling REFRESHED, ENERGIZED and HAPPY as you splash about your endless summer days.
We’ll dip our toes in places we tell ourselves we don’t have time for, and we’ll let go of the continuously running ticker tape that nags us to make better use of our longer days. Because these longer days are a fleeting gift of warmth and release, begging us to grab hold with open hands and expectant hearts.
There’s beautiful refreshment when we allow splashes to awaken us, deep inside. So let’s embrace this awakening and make the most of this seasonal gift.
I’M READY! HOW ABOUT YOU?
Ready for #flipflops and #summerfun? Join the Summer Splash Series for 6 weeks of refreshing, energizing splashes of white space to awaken your soul through the long summer days. Share on X
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