I can’t believe July is ending tomorrow! That’s like half the summer done! 

Yeah we all complain about the heat and humidity, but hey, there is freedom in summer…freedom to be outside more often, to walk out without layers and layers of clothing, freedom to cook outside and eat outside, freedom to eat local fruits and vegetables, and definitely more freedom and flexibility with time with schools being off.

So yes, I do feel the heat and humidity, but I will take all the freedom that summer affords me, and enjoy it to the last day of this very limited time of the seasonal year.

My summer so far has involved the following:

A Week in the Wild

A trip to a cabin on an island in the wilderness…this was just magical. We canoed a lot, hiked some (the bugs kept us away from more hiking!), and just biding our days reading by the lake…it was so very special. Without electricity or internet, we played card games in the evenings, we chatted, we took to the lake when we felt like it. And being disconnected from the world was the treat we didn’t know we wanted…I am very thankful for this very special week in our summer.

A Week(ish) Solo

I went on a solo trip soon after to Port Hope, ON. This was my second year taking some time off from being a wife or a mom, and just hanging out with myself. And it was delightful! To not have a schedule or responsibilities, and to just go where my curiosity and mood took me…so very precious. I didn’t do much in this time, but wandered around the town, read a lot, and just went down rabbit holes where my heart took me- having no agenda rocks!

Lots of Yoga

I have a summer pass to my yoga studio, and since I want to make the best use of its unlimited classes, weekday morning Mysore classes are on my agenda these days. I like having this in my life, but I cannot believe how valuable this time has become. Both for it’s meditative practice, and to learn about how amazing my body is! A regular practice is opening me and making me strong in ways I didn’t believe was possible. And getting better acquainted with my body patterns and what good posture entails in its very minute details- well, that’s a lesson for life! And having this community to work with definitely helps…so happy for this gift of yoga.

Napping

I am napping almost every afternoon these days…and it’s delicious! The early wake times (5 am) for my yoga class, and following the yoga with strength training, along with the heat and humidity really zap me out of enough energy by the afternoon that I do not have any problems catching a 20-40 minute nap…and to be truthful, my body craves it. So I am not going to feel guilty about this little treat in my days.

Keeping a few important things alive

So not everything is getting done with the same ferocity as during the rest of the year. And I am ok with that. Between all our plans of traveling and being out, and me feeling a little bit lazy with the easier schedule during the week, I am touching these important things in my life, but not hitting them. Things like weight training (I go when my schedule allows me), eating with macros in mind, art making and drawing (small doses), and blogging (I took a break but now I am back but may not do 5 days every week in the summer?). These things will get on my regular schedule come September. But until then I will be going easy on myself to make time for special summer stuff…and make some memories instead 🙂

So far that’s what my summer has looked like. It may change in August, and who knows I may feel even lazier (that would be interesting!), or something else may grab me. But no matter what happens, I am going to cherish this time, and enjoy it while it lasts.