Today I am hosting the roundup of Spiritual Journey First Thursday posts. The theme I chose is Summer.
I am embracing my summer. I’ve been to the lake to visit my parents and my brother, and I just returned from a beach trip with my middle daughter (work for her, fun for me). On the long drive home yesterday, I listened to a podcast I had not tuned into before, “The Simple Show.” The show seems to be designed for women in the midst of careers and raising kids.
While I am not in that stage of life, I did glean a few things from their discussion of Grown-upping the summer. One of the co-hosts has 4 simple goals for the summer: Learn something new, enjoy something, do something good for you, and finish something. I could do this.
While I was at the beach, I learned something new...stand-up paddle boarding. I even joined a class of paddle board yoga. It was amazing to do yoga in a grove of water lilies. I think there should be a paddle-board outfit on the bayou.
I am enjoying…flowers. My kitchen table glows with a bouquet of white and pink lisianthus I bought at the farmer’s market last Saturday. Flowers are a simple way to bring joy inside.
I am committing to walking every day. Walking is simple. Walking is sacred. Walking is good for you.
The goal of finishing something is a bit of a challenge. I am working on a new book of poetry about the first African American female physician in the state of Louisiana. This challenges my research and writing skills. I’d like to finish it by the time school starts back or at the latest by September. The good news is I am more than half-way there.
Summer is also a time for quiet meditation, reading, and connecting with my family. Summer has a slowed down sun-kissed feeling. What are your goals for the summer?
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Sounds like a wonderful summer! Thanks for hosting! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
This post is so inspiring, making me stop and think how I’d answer each of these. Thanks. 🙂
I love your four summer principles; think I’ll make a note of them! It sounds like your summer is off to a wonderful start! Thanks so much for hosting and choosing the lovely and inspiring topic of SUMMER!
Thank you for sharing those 4 things, Margaret! Love the thought of you paddleboarding.. .we need paddleboards here at the lake. Here are my answers:
Learn something new: how to write a haiku
enjoy something: flowers, here, too! And birds! And a new squirrel feeder. 🙂
do something good for you: amen to the walking
finish something: I made a pillow slipcover yesterday. does that count? 🙂
It’s hard to believe you haven’t written haiku. Someday I should visit you on your lake. We could do paddleboard yoga together!
I love your summertime list! I tried paddle boarding once, but just couldn’t seem to find my balance beyond being on my knees. Yoga on a paddle board sounds wonderful in theory. 😉 Enjoy your summer.
Hi Margaret: Thank you for your post. I like those 4 challenges:
Learn something new: I’m working on a new approach to the piano keyboard
Enjoy something: birds, grandkids, a week at the lake, grandma’s diaries
Do something good for you: I’m stepping back from a responsibility
Finish something: this is my Achille’s heel… what I need to do is decide which project to finish… I did sew a white summer top… if I sew a hook and eye on it will be finished!
Best to you for the summer.
I haven’t sewn anything for myself in a long time. Maybe I should get back to it. Do you play piano? I grew up taking lessons, but haven’t played in a long time. I did get a ukulele and I want to practice more. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Margaret: Yes, I started lessons again after .. well… let’s just say many many years. It has been a good challenge. I haven’t sewn for myself in a long time either, but I began to ask myself “why not?” So… I’m happy with this one little project. I really did finish it this afternoon! ;0)
Margaret, sorry that my post is late in the day. I had a lengthy dentist appointment. Thank you for hosting SJ1stT with such a welcoming title. I am amazed at your ability to balance and do yoga at the same time on a paddleboard. I am in love with my few flowers that are out. The peonies bloomed while I was at Baby Sierra’s house but when I came back, I cut many down to fill vases. I am reminded about the beauty of the outdoors when I look at the flowers. Summer has not hit Long Island for that matter spring is up and down these past few weeks. Your poetry project sounds amazing. It remind me of a PhD topic my friend researched on an unknown woman writer in the Adirondacks.
Slowed down sun-kissed feeling, your post left me feeling so relaxed. Love the four simple goals and how you’re embracing summer. There’s something so refreshing about summer and water. I’m headed to a friend’s cabin mid-month for a quick escape and I can’t wait.
I am enjoying this summery walk with you Margaret!