Are you grateful for the beautiful summer we just had? Maybe you’re feeling a little down because summer is over or perhaps you are excited for the fall season to begin.
You might be like me and feel like you’re being pulled in both directions.
For me this summer was about so much more than just warm weather and long sunny days. When the summer began I wasn’t feeling well at all. How ironic, I had gained 19 pounds since Covid started, I had hip pain that kept me awake at night. hot flashes that were anxiety inducing and my dog was dying.
I was overworked and experiencing some sort of burnout. I just wanted to lie in bed, shut off my brain and sleep for days.
I know I’m not the only small business person who felt this way. In some ways, the world opening up again has been more stressful and confusing than when it shut down.
Instead of trying to figure out the world’s problems, I chose door #2! I took the summer off and I rested. No agenda, I did the bare minimum and did not pile anything extra on my plate. I also took time to grieve and process the loss of our beloved Boink.
I think as women we are always on the search for balance and self care. By taking some time for myself, I realized that I had been neglecting my own needs for quite some time. As a matter of fact, I wasn’t even sure what I desired for my life.
I wanted to share with you some of the things that I did this summer that really helped me to treat myself with kindness and give myself some grace.
– I cut out the white stuff, yup! SUGAR!
– I booked myself in for chiropractic and physio visits.
– I started walking and working out regularly with one of my super-positive friends.
– I chose to stand instead of sitting whenever possible.
– I spent afternoons with my Mom where all we did was talk and look at the sailboats on the water from her balcony.
– Wayne and I walked, talked, enjoyed so many magical summer nights and worked together on some outdoor projects.
– I’ve had girls’ weekends, dinners, bike rides with friends, beach days on my own and was able to visit with close family friends for the first time in way too long.
I experienced a summer where I allowed myself to live my life with intention. There’s been some hard stuff to look at too. There are things I want to work through and do differently, obstacles I need to let go of and truly live my life in a fulfilling way. It’s all a process, but I think about the truth of what Socrates said, “An unexamined life is not worth living”.
It might be scary sometimes to look within but believe me, it’s worth it, the awakening is so liberating. Go inside, discover what inspires you, what resonates with you and ask yourself why you are not allowing yourself to wake up happy? Why are we constantly feeling stressed about the past and/or the future?
I challenge you to live in the present, let go of what no longer serves you and work through your thoughts and feelings in your own time, there is never any reason to rush.
We are all Wonder Women in our own special way, just make sure the little girl inside is well taken care of so that the woman you are can set her boundaries and fill her heart with love.
You are not just enough, you are more than enough.
Let’s have an amazing fall season together!
Monica XO
Stay tuned for new episodes of the “Get to know her” show, coming soon . . .
That sounds like a fabulous way to refresh and enjoy the summer.
Monica, it sounds to me you are totally in touch with who you are and where your at. Stopping before moving forward, planning before doing is your best chance of continued successes . All the best.