Favorite Things This Summer

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The summer is flying by! I can't believe we're already almost halfway through. But, boy, am I enjoying it. I've gotten in some family time, a few vacations here and there, time to rest and so much more. I've seen a few of my favorite bloggers post about their favorite things of the summer and it seemed like a fun way to capture some of my own so far. So, here it goes: 
  1. Simple Moments // Sunrises, sunsets, walks on the beach...Simple things that remind us why we're here. Stillness. A breath of fresh air. Clarity. A chance to pause and reset. Set new goals. Dream again. Remembering who I used to be and where I'm heading.
  2. More Time For Things That Matter // During the year, things can get crazy and hectic, but summer sheds some light on all of that. It has given me a chance to meet up with friends for coffee, take day trips, spend time with family visiting from out-of-state. It's given me time to step back and remember that there's more to life than just working or setting up your career and it's okay to have more fun. Even just doing nothing with the best company is great, too. While I love to do lists and have jotted down a few for the summer, it hasn't been as tedious or overwhelming as it can be during the academic year.
  3. Poetry and Words // I've been reading a lot more over the past couple months. Blogs. Books. Tweets. Instagram posts. All of it. It inspires me, it fuels me, and pushes me to do more of my own writing. To think about my own life and the stories I want to tell. It also helps me escape the day to day. Reading young adult fiction or something fun and lighthearted is perfect for this time of year or to take on vacation. 
  4. Travel // Last summer, I wasn't able to do much traveling. I didn't do a whole lot of anything. This year, I wanted to change that and I've been able to see several new cities or return to others that I've always loved. I've also been able to do more with friends, which I think can teach you so much about yourself. I've had a blast doing it, whether it's a bigger trip with a flight or just a day trip a couple hours out of town. 
  5. Exercise // Exercise has been a big part of my overall health this year, and I've tried to continue with that throughout the summer. Whether it was going in to work out with my trainer early in the morning or just being more active and taking a walk at work or getting more physical activity on vacation by walking instead of driving. 
The summer is the perfect time to hit reset, prioritize and figure out what it is that YOU want. Where are you going? Where do you want to end up, not just at the end of this year, but tonight or tomorrow? This is the time to hit pause and say 'no more' and decide what route you want to go down. 

That's all for now,
Shelby


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