Tomorrow is August, and as we turn the page into a new month, I’ve been reflecting on July—what made it meaningful, what made it hard, and what I want to carry forward into next summer.
I started the month with a few hopes and some bigger dreams: overhaul the closets, clean out the garage, and read more nonfiction. Truthfully? Some of it actually happened. I did read nonfiction. And I engaged an amazing group to help with the garage.
But the massive overhaul I was imagining simply wasn’t realistic. And honestly, I’m not sure it mattered as much as I once thought it did.
When I look back on July, it really wasn’t the productivity I missed—it was the small, relational moments that made the summer memorable for me.
A camp drop-off in NC for Grace
A morning of walking, cold plunging and making bread with a busy friend
Spending two days with my college roommate I rarely get to see
A baby shower for a special girl
Time with my niece and nephew
Making a trip to the funeral of a dear friend’s dad
It wasn’t some monumental experience that defined this past month or the summer. It was the space—a word I’m coming to love and realize how much I’ve missed —to connect, celebrate a life, and be present with people vs in a total rush or panic because there’s too much squeezed in.
In that space (which I’m still working to create), I’ve started to find a new rhythm that isn’t always comfortable when it’s slow, but it makes peace and fulfillment possible with the speed at which everything else seems to be moving.
The space, if we’ll lean in, is what helps us go from surviving to thriving.
AND, as we say goodbye to summer, things are about to get a lot faster. SO, I’m asking myself:
What made this summer great?
What do I want to replicate next year?
What made it hard?
From a work perspective our team had a big epiphany—we tend to run out of steam by July and have an unexpected feeling of disconnection. It’s exactly what happened this time last year. Having that conversation has already shifted how we’ll approach next summer: we can plan for it, build in buffer, and intentionally design space that gives us energy.
What are you noticing about your energy, team and family right now?
As you wrap up your summer, knowing what we know now, consider these prompts to wrap up this season in a way that makes you feel prepared for the next one—while it’s fresh.
– What did you plan—or not plan—that you wish you had?
– What would you love to prioritize for next summer?
– What would save you time or money if you thought about it now?
A few things I’m taking note of for next summer:
Making more intentional time for my niece and nephew
Refining my childcare systems. Always a work in progress and getting better every year.
Planning a trip out west in 2026 that I wish for in the middle of every single summer
It’s all about putting the important things down first. At home and at work. Otherwise the speed takes over and you miss it. So don’t miss it. Lean in while it’s fresh as you complete one important season and head into the next. You’ll be so glad you did.
Can’t wait to do August with you!!