Lukewarm, Cozy Girl Summer

I think it’s very bold to go out there and say with a full chest that this is your summer. It’s risky. We plan, God laughs. But that being said I have big plans for this summer. They aren’t the usual things. I think I have realized this is not the summer nor is the summer or other season ever coming where I am going to be come a hot girl, nor have a hot girl summer. My joints ache, I have a whole husband, and even worse a whole job.

But here are the things I have promised myself for this summer and have already begun doing so I can at least have a Lukewarm, Cozy Girl Summer

1. Go outside every single blessed day even if it’s not nice out. Now, this has been kind of easy with the nice weather lately and I am not saying I’m going to sit outside in the rain weeping softly just to prove a point. I plan to head out to work outside sometimes in the morning when it isn’t scorching hot yet, take my breaks for a dip in the pool – and on bad weather days park myself on the front porch where there’s weather protection just to get a few deep breaths in.

2. Eat all the produce. Becoming vegan has really opened my eyes to the wonder of fruits and vegetable especially and the excitement I had when I got my first, albeit early and not fully phenomenal but still very good ear of corn was not dissimilar to the way a 23 year old man feels when walking down the boardwalk when the bikinis come out.

3. Do fun things. I forgot to do this several summers. Fun things for me are probably not the same as you. I’d sooner slice my fingernails diagonally then sit in shore traffic for hours to go to the beach. But, for example, my hubby and I went to pet and hug baby goats at an Animal Sanctuary the other week. That was way fun.

4. Do what I have to do but don’t always add to the pile. I have a tendency to be a bit ambitious and when there’s not enough on my plate I pile on and on and on. For this summer, just for this summer, I am going to do what I have to do without deciding to challenge myself to add 35 additional wrinkles to that.

5. Stop and look. The other day I was working away at my desk and looked up to see a beautiful bluejay in the tree in front of me. I realized I don’t look up enough. I’m missing out. Of course, this is the same bluejay who I have found multiple times eating out of the cat food bowl I leave outside for the strays, I think. But we’re not going to talk about that.

6. Last but not least, self care. Use the expensive sunscreen. Moisturize. Meditate. Everything that makes you feel loved and cared for feels just a little bit more amazing still when the sun is shining.

Hope this is YOUR summer. Say it with your full chest!