We live in a culture where “more” is so often erroneously associated with “better.” This idea takes no vacation during summer break and sometimes gets even harder to avoid. The neighbors are taking that awesome trip, your nephew is signed up for that amazing day camp, your friends have told you how awesome that local attraction is; before we know it, our summer bucket lists have grown to an impossible level and we’re left feeling like nothing we do will be enough.
This rings true every season, but there is something about the open schedule of summer break that makes us feel like we need to fill every moment…to make every second count. But there’s something to be said for down time. There is something to be said for giving ourselves time to process our experiences. And there is definitely something to be said for spending entire afternoons reading beneath the green tinged shade of a tree.
Joy is rooted in being present. This is true for us, as adults, but also for kids. If we’re running from one camp, vacation, or attraction to another, are we feeling the full joy of what those experiences are there to offer us? What if instead of adding things to our summer schedules, we could figure out how to add more meaning to the ones we deem worthy of 100% of our attention? Our summers could be fuller, but less busy.
This month’s mantra has become the words my family is living by this summer and I am continually coming back to them to remind myself of what I truly want this summer to be for all of us. You can do anything, but you don’t have to do everything. This statement gives even more freedom to an already liberated schedule and I hope you’ll give that to yourself as you go through your summer days and weeks.
Print out this month’s mantra printable and hang it somewhere in your home where you and your family can remember to make your moments full, and not your schedules. Then download the web image to share on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and inspire your friends to do the same.
This article was written by Maegan.