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 Continue Reading
September Somedays Series
It's September, and that means it's the perfect time to begin pulling those "maybe somedays" out of the drawer, dust them off and start moving forward on making them a reality - TODAY. We all have them. Life's possibilities we consider once the kids are back in school. The ones we let peek from beneath our cluttered heart's drawer for just a breath. Long enough to feel our pulse rush and our imagination ignite. For a brief moment, our somedays stir us to believe in more. They warm us and open our mind to more beyond the here and now. And they create space for our dreams to take life. What are your somedays? What will it take to open your heart's drawer and let them breathe? How would it feel to give a place to grow? September is the perfect space for birthing Continue Reading
Find Yourself by Losing Time
Summer in our home has always meant losing track of time. We stay up later and let our body wake us instead of our alarm clocks. Our meal schedule is relaxed, and we eat when we're hungry. Leftovers seem to taste fresher and the never-ending supply of lemonade and ice tea carries us through the lazy afternoon hours. We do everything we can to NOT follow a normal schedule because our souls need to do more than breathe - they need to exhale. Slow and easy. It's been this way for more than 20 summers, and it's one way we refresh and reconnect with ourselves...by intentionally losing time. Summer is too short to not learn the value of losing time. And the benefits are too great to throw away. ~sharper thinking and out-of-the-box clarity ~increased creativity ~more Continue Reading
Refresh with the Small Things
This week, I'm committing to refreshing my life with the small things. I've tucked away my To-Do list and pulled out my "creative-small-things" list. When I take inventory of my typical day, I realize there is very little time for the small creative pleasures. And I've had a few things on my list for quite some time. They aren't time consumers and they aren't costly. But the happiness and fulfillment they provide is a big payoff! My goal this week is to spend some intentional time being creative in small ways because creativity helps us grow and feel alive. It inspires and enriches our sense of well-being, and it sprinkles hope and joy to the deepest parts of our soul. Perhaps you have some creative projects sitting in your someday pile, and summer is a great time to dust Continue Reading