Summer Plans
Being bored, honoring the moment, and some new things
Talofa, Friends! It’s June, which always feels like a gift to me. First, because it is my birth month and being alive is the most precious gift. Second, because the days are sweet and long, where adventure can be had at any and every moment. And third, because everyone is a bit more feral. Our animal sides come out more in June, after the meandering warm-up of Spring, we get to June having shed our woolen layers and we get sweaty, loud, and ambitious.
I always want to do everything in the Summer, but this season feels a bit different. I’ve been working with a Zen concept, that being looking at the present moment and recognizing that “This is it.” This is a practice of acknowledging the present moment, the reality of where I am right now, and accepting it without rushing off to the next thought, event, or action. This is a form of sitting or meditation, but with inspiration from Katie Arnold’s book Brief Flashings in the Phenomenal World, I’ve learned to do this as I move through the day. When I’m at my desk staring at a spreadsheet wanting to plan our honeymoon instead, I recognize that “This is it”— this spreadsheet is my work and I love my work, and the money I earn will help make the honeymoon possible. When I’m running on the greenway trail that I run almost every day, I think “This is it” and see that this home run, while boring at times, is everything— it’s made up of all the runs that came before, and it is the foundation of all the runs to come in the future. So I’ve been working in my home office, running after work, working in the garden, cooking meals at home, repeating that cycle every day. I thought to myself the other day, gosh this is boring. We should plan a trip! We should buy a new kitchen gadget! We should do anything to spice it up! But then I calmed down and relished in the fact that routine is a powerful healing force in an endlessly moving world, and it’s exactly what I need right now.
Whether you are filling your Summer Days with exciting events or keeping a chill routine, I hope that you can take some time to pause and recognize your life for what it is, in that moment, with gratitude. This is it.
Something new
You know, I think about you a lot between blog posts and have been wanting to add a bit more structure here. I’ve been posting about once a month, but come July I will start writing weekly to share a peep into what’s preoccupying my thoughts, plans in the works, tips for planning adventures, gardens, and the like (my own and tips I’ve picked up from others). I’ll probably throw in some book/reading recommendations too! These posts will be shorter, more like this one. On occasion you may get a more typical stream of consciousness long form story from me, so don’t worry— those won’t totally go away!
Hobbies > Screens
I've spoken with at least a dozen friends who have been trying to “get off the screen.” Reading this blog isn’t helping with that right now, but here’s something that can once you’re done reading: Hobbies! Hobbies can take us off the screen and force us to be present to the time we spend doing them. They are like a two scoop ice cream cone on a hot, summer day. You better pay attention and keep working on it otherwise you’ll end up with less thrill than you paid for (and hobby supplies can be pricey!).
A new hobby that I’ve taken up is needlepoint after finding a beautiful, simple yet modern pattern kit at our local fabric shop. When I have a free moment or need a break from work, rather than getting on my phone I turn to my needlepoint and work on some stitches. When I do this, I actually notice my mind slowing down and my body relaxing. Having something beautiful at the end will be a bonus!
My friend Helen calls these creativity breaks. Can you plan a creativity break to work on a hobby that’s been dormant or desired for some time?
Plans in the works
A birthday trip to Abingdon, VA to run the Virginia Creeper Trail (33 miles to celebrate turning 32, with 1 for good luck!)
Weekend backpacking at Grandfather Mountain (as we did in 2022, we will stop at Local Lion in Boone beforehand for coffee and POTATO DONUTS, SO GOOD)
Making mimosa flower tincture by slowly and gratefully collecting mimosa blossoms on dog walks and runs
Building a garden bed for a bean patch to grow dry beans to put up in our larder
Working through my summer read stack, selected from my library of books I have bought but have not read (it’s time!)
What are you planning to get up to this Summer? I’d love to hear!
With Alofa/Love,
Eva