There's really starting to be too much pressure on Summer. I don't remember feeling this way a decade ago, but now definitely, it's just too short and the FOMO is out of hand.
Thanks for sharing that Ivy. I had written a while back, what if we asked people "did you have a good weekend?" instead of "what did you do this weekend?" and it holds here. I hope it was a lovely trip filled with meaningful experiences, whatever that means to YOU. (and for what it's worth, my parents were always fans of traveling with us in a way that we had a lot of down time to just hang, walk around, relax -- I don't recall ever squeezing in four Paris museums in one day!)
Well come visit sometime! Can 8.4 million people be wrong? (But in seriousness, lots of people here have cars, especially outside Manhattan, but I still think of it as a luxury. Even our 2008 beast we drive. It's a treat to be able to "get out" when we need. Guess I should use it more!)
Love this! August has always felt like one, big Sunday. Lots of boring adulting too this summer along with not so fun stuff. I like your idea of something so simple and grounding.
And yes 💯 “go, it will be good for you.” We can be so cautious to give ourselves time and rest. Something about saving for when it’s needed. But it’s so refreshing! I took 2 days off b/c 15yr old and 4 wisdom teeth coming out. I felt Guilty for taking two days. Sure it can be easy and then sometimes not. I’m still guilty but made the right decision fwiw. 🦷
My wife and I like to get our exercise in before work each day. I go to the gym and she typically goes for a run. In the winter, that means she's on the treadmill in the basement. But in the summer, she takes advantage of that early light and runs in the glorious time before the day gets hot. That means she out on the streets by 5:30am. On Tuesday, as I was leaving for the gym she was still in bed. "It's too dark out. I've gotta wait until it gets a little lighter to run," she said from under the covers. "Uh-oh," was my reply.
Early August always has me feeling a combination of nostalgia and regret. Nostalgia - "These are the last days of summer when my kids are these ages, before my youngest heads to high school" and regret - "We should have done more things together as a family! We didn't do enough! I didn't peel them off their electronic devices as often as I should have!" Ugh, I hate this feeling. Sadness + anxiety is not a fun way to see summer out the door. Out here in the Chicago area, high schools start August 14th and elementary August 21st. So little time left for fun family bonding time! At least, that's what my anxious brain tells me. Just gotta breathe through it, I guess...
I'm sorry you're feeling sadness with the anxiety. Be kind to yourself. Find just one little family thing that will make you happy over the next few weeks. It's amazing how little things have big impact.
We moved to Madison from Chicago five years ago and schools here don't start 'til after Labor Day. My oldest sons' friends from our old neighborhood are visiting next week — their last week of summer. It does seem early. But you're right: breathe through it :)
September is the best and gets robbed by the school administrators who dictate the "end of summer" far too soon. Of course the cooler nights and slow change in leaf pigments bring their own kind of melancholy, but don't discount September. Back-to-school be damned.
“The Summer We Got Through Some Hard Shit..." I can empathise. But I just think (a) there will other summers (hopefully!) and winter is lovely too in its own way 😀
Love this Liz, when we can nourish our soul with what it needs, there is no need for anything else. Resting, recharging and doing exactly as you please are the best medicine. 💫🙏
Blackberries plucked from the vine are one of life's greatest pleasures, aren't they? Hope this summer had some good family time in it, wherever you were. I always get little flutters of not wanting everyone to go back to school (both kids and Emma to her school librarian gig)... so I'm glad to have a term for it now, at least. As you say, there's always September.
Blackberries plucked from the vine are one of life's greatest pleasures, aren't they? Hope this summer had some good family time in it, wherever you were. I always get little flutters of not wanting everyone to go back to school (both kids and Emma to her school librarian gig)... so I'm glad to have a term for it now, at least. As you say, there's always September.
Sounds like a heavenly staycay
It always is up there!
There's really starting to be too much pressure on Summer. I don't remember feeling this way a decade ago, but now definitely, it's just too short and the FOMO is out of hand.
Thanks for sharing that Ivy. I had written a while back, what if we asked people "did you have a good weekend?" instead of "what did you do this weekend?" and it holds here. I hope it was a lovely trip filled with meaningful experiences, whatever that means to YOU. (and for what it's worth, my parents were always fans of traveling with us in a way that we had a lot of down time to just hang, walk around, relax -- I don't recall ever squeezing in four Paris museums in one day!)
I feel it too. I hereby opt out of competitive summering. You with me?
"People...in NYC..own their own cars??" -some woman in the middle of FL who has never been on a subway ever, and NEVER to NYC.
Well come visit sometime! Can 8.4 million people be wrong? (But in seriousness, lots of people here have cars, especially outside Manhattan, but I still think of it as a luxury. Even our 2008 beast we drive. It's a treat to be able to "get out" when we need. Guess I should use it more!)
Love this! August has always felt like one, big Sunday. Lots of boring adulting too this summer along with not so fun stuff. I like your idea of something so simple and grounding.
Agree. But I do like hearing the crickets chirping at night.
And yes 💯 “go, it will be good for you.” We can be so cautious to give ourselves time and rest. Something about saving for when it’s needed. But it’s so refreshing! I took 2 days off b/c 15yr old and 4 wisdom teeth coming out. I felt Guilty for taking two days. Sure it can be easy and then sometimes not. I’m still guilty but made the right decision fwiw. 🦷
This reminds me --I have to get my wisdom teeth out too and I keep putting it off for the same reasons. Thanks for the nudge!
My wife and I like to get our exercise in before work each day. I go to the gym and she typically goes for a run. In the winter, that means she's on the treadmill in the basement. But in the summer, she takes advantage of that early light and runs in the glorious time before the day gets hot. That means she out on the streets by 5:30am. On Tuesday, as I was leaving for the gym she was still in bed. "It's too dark out. I've gotta wait until it gets a little lighter to run," she said from under the covers. "Uh-oh," was my reply.
I'm impressed with anyone's commitment to get out at 5:30, even if there is light out there. Wow.
Early August always has me feeling a combination of nostalgia and regret. Nostalgia - "These are the last days of summer when my kids are these ages, before my youngest heads to high school" and regret - "We should have done more things together as a family! We didn't do enough! I didn't peel them off their electronic devices as often as I should have!" Ugh, I hate this feeling. Sadness + anxiety is not a fun way to see summer out the door. Out here in the Chicago area, high schools start August 14th and elementary August 21st. So little time left for fun family bonding time! At least, that's what my anxious brain tells me. Just gotta breathe through it, I guess...
I'm sorry you're feeling sadness with the anxiety. Be kind to yourself. Find just one little family thing that will make you happy over the next few weeks. It's amazing how little things have big impact.
We moved to Madison from Chicago five years ago and schools here don't start 'til after Labor Day. My oldest sons' friends from our old neighborhood are visiting next week — their last week of summer. It does seem early. But you're right: breathe through it :)
September is the best and gets robbed by the school administrators who dictate the "end of summer" far too soon. Of course the cooler nights and slow change in leaf pigments bring their own kind of melancholy, but don't discount September. Back-to-school be damned.
September is always a beautiful month here, thanks for the important reminder!
“The Summer We Got Through Some Hard Shit..." I can empathise. But I just think (a) there will other summers (hopefully!) and winter is lovely too in its own way 😀
Away but just right here. Proves that what we need can always be within reach. ❤️
Thank you, from all of us who also don't have any great summer vacay stories to tell!
Love this Liz, when we can nourish our soul with what it needs, there is no need for anything else. Resting, recharging and doing exactly as you please are the best medicine. 💫🙏
Please come back. The hammock and yellow tomato soup are waiting. I am, too.
Loved this. Thanks.
Blackberries plucked from the vine are one of life's greatest pleasures, aren't they? Hope this summer had some good family time in it, wherever you were. I always get little flutters of not wanting everyone to go back to school (both kids and Emma to her school librarian gig)... so I'm glad to have a term for it now, at least. As you say, there's always September.
Blackberries plucked from the vine are one of life's greatest pleasures, aren't they? Hope this summer had some good family time in it, wherever you were. I always get little flutters of not wanting everyone to go back to school (both kids and Emma to her school librarian gig)... so I'm glad to have a term for it now, at least. As you say, there's always September.