The Magic of a “Good Old Fashioned” Summer

(Photo Credit – Katie Henderson)

Summer is officially in full swing! Remember those magical summer days of your childhood?

Back in spring I got super clear that I wanted to have a “real” summer this year. Not one that flew by before I knew it, but one that was full of adventure, fun and play. I wanted to wear sundresses, drink lemonade, day dream and lay in the warm sun for hours.  I wanted a “good old fashion summer.”

As I connected with my strong yearning for summer, I also got curious about why my craving was so strong this year?  Was it really the otter pops and swimming I wanted…..or was there a deeper value I wasn’t honoring? A need I wasn’t listening to?

I went into the heart of my longing and found a deep desire for…

s p a c i o u s n e s s.

I realized…

Spaciousness was the key to those magical summers of our childhood. Those slow and sleepy times … when days lasted a lifetime and anything felt possible.

Spaciousness is what makes summer deeply restful and wildly alive. It gives way to spontaneity, creativity, and excitement. It creates an environment of wonder, peacefulness and playfulness.

But spaciousness isn’t always the easiest to implement.

As adults we have jobs, families, responsibilities. We live in a fast paced modern world, where everything is designed to speed us up, distract us, and create a low-grade level of consent anxiety. It’s exhausting and our excitement slides all too quickly into fatigue.  We’re left uncomfortable. Depleted. Starving for spaciousness.

Here’s the thing, (and yes I am sure many of you already know this): The world isn’t going to slow down for us. The reality is that we must choose spaciousness.

Spaciousness is a choice. Our choice. – Click to Tweet

If we want to slow down,  we have to consciously create room in our lives, homes, schedules, and minds.

We have to reconnect with spaciousness as a value and craft the cycle of our days accordingly.

This summer, I’m slowing down. I’m consciously creating a good, old-fashioned summer of fun and spaciousness. I’m making time stretch beyond my average work week.  I am working hard, playing hard and choosing to get present and soak up all the magic of summer around me.

Here’s how I’m creating a fun, spacious summer. Join me?

I’ve created a running list of fun ideas to help me slow down, create spaciousness, and thoroughly enjoy the sweetness of summer. I know it’s got me inspired — and I hope it helps those of you craving the same kind of feelings too!

Ideas for a Good Old Fashion Summer Home + Heart:

• Eat watermelon. Lots of it. Often.
• Lay in a field of grass. Maybe on a gorgeous blanket you bought for a dream picnic.
• Plan that picnic of your dreams you keep putting off.
• Ride a bike (extra points for a basket!)
• Take a whole day off. Schedule nothing. Spend it by yourself or with your precious family.
• Hang out by the water for a whole day: pool, beach, lake, or river. Hopefully multiple days!
• Eat ice cream and stock the freezer with popsicles

• Put “watching the sun set” in your calendar and make it happen
• Pick wildflowers
• Make daisy wreaths for a little girl (or your inner little girl)
• Spend time in a garden
• Go on long walks
• Journal on a park bench
• Read, nap, repeat
• Throw a summer soiree
• Have your best girlfriends over for brunch and eat outside

• Light sparklers at dusk
• Chase fireflies
• Take time to do nothing but giggle
• Hold a new baby and watch closely as he or she discovers the world for the first time
• Notice when worry or stress creep in — and escort them to the door
• Pick berries and bake pies (or who cares… buy a pie and pretend you made it! Serve it on your most beautiful plates.)
• Go to the movies in the middle of the day (or catch an outdoor show)
• Go camping or sleep under the stars in your backyard (or a national park..I went to Yosemite for the first time this summer…it was amazing!)
• Go horseback riding
• Take a day trip to your local farm

• Place fresh flowers in every room of your home
• Adorn the bed with white linens
• Play summery music (my favorites: Hawaiian and Reggae!)
• Fancy up your water with mint, lemon, cucumber, or raspberry
• Have candlelit dinners under twinkly lights on your porch
• Eat lots of shish kabobs, heirloom tomatoes, and corn on the cob!

Doesn’t it sound lovely?

Are you onboard for a magical, spacious, old fashioned summer, too? Let’s keep building this list! What fun ideas do you have to share? I can’t wait to hear about them in the comments below.

And if you are up for it…. let’s help keep each other inspired! I’ll be posting throughout the summer, using the hashtag: #summerofspaciousness. Here’s how you can join in:

• Follow me on Facebook, here.
• Catch my Instagram feed here.
• Post your own photos and reflections (on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook) using the hashtag: #summerofspaciousness. I can’t wait to see what you are up to!

Sending love,

Rebecca