What's Saving My Summer Life

Noticing the wrecking ball that is summer and how much I love it is worth some attention because noticing helps us lean in with more intentionality.

Tell me I’m wrong: Summer is the absolute wrecking ball of the four seasons. She comes in hot at the end of May, annihilates our daily routines, leaves our well-stocked kitchens empty, requires multiple showers a day, and leaves in a flurry of school supply shopping in August. For me, without school drop-off or pick-up, I have no anchors to my work schedule. The Teenager is home nearly all day every day, blessedly eating anything he can find and playing video games in the next room. And it’s so hot that every outdoor activity–tennis, dog walking, the pool–gets pushed as late into the evening as possible. 

But I’m not complaining! I love summer. I love late night fireworks. I love any excuse to get a frozen dessert. And I love it when the Teenager sneaks into my office to check on me and Zelda. 

Noticing the wrecking ball that is summer and how much I love it is worth some attention. When we pay attention to how a season of our lives is different from all the others, when we name what brings us joy, when we identify what makes our lives simpler, we can lean into the season with a bit more intentionality. I write these quarterly “What’s Saving My Life” features, so I can feel more like myself. And maybe you’ll also take up the practice of noticing what’s saving your life, so you can feel more like yourself. 

So here’s my list of what’s saving my life this summer: 

1. Opening the Pool

In the summers, I open the little neighborhood pool where I’m a member every Friday. This volunteer commitment is a “decide once” for the summer, and knowing that I’ll be spending my Friday mornings at the pool helps anchor the rest of my work week. I have at least an hour to myself while I complete my chores, vacuuming the pool is strangely meditative, and once I’m done, I get to glory in the clear blue water, followed by unlimited time reading poolside.

2. A New French Apron

I bought a new kitchen apron from Les Curiosites de Francis while I was in Chamonix, France, in April. It brings me the greatest joy because:

1. It features an adorable squirrel, which is ironic because Zelda, the Scottish terrier, is on constant alert for the squirrels in our backyard.

2. It’s the loveliest dark goldenrod orange. Orange has been my favorite color since high school, and this particular orange not only suits my preferences but also complements the teal in my kitchen.

3. It fully covers whatever I’m wearing and protects my entire front side.

Honest to God, it’s pretty enough to be a decoration, so maybe I should dig out a spare hook and hang it in the kitchen!

3. A Dehumidifier

Our 75-year-old house flirts with 70% humidity year-round, so it has a constant basement-like mustiness. And yet, Chris and I have dragged our feet on a dehumidifier ever since we moved in six years ago. It’s one of those things: Why did we wait so long? We finally purchased a dehumidifier a few weeks ago, and within hours, the household humidity dropped to 50%. It’s hovered there ever since. Now I don’t feel like everything is sticky with too much moisture. (Due to nose blindness, I’m not sure if it’s helped with the musty smell, but my fingers are crossed.)

4. A Cocktail Shaker

Is there anything worse than unintentionally drinking a chunk of undissolved collagen powder? In the world of drink mixing, no, nothing is worse! Bleh! I mix several drinks every morning that need a good shake to dissolve all my health supplements, but there’s no good way to get that shake-shake in my metal tumblers. So I dug out an old cocktail shaker to cover my metal tumblers, and voila! My drinks come out gloriously foamy and ready to drink. I start my day hydrated, proteined, and fibered. Total drink-saver!

5. Substack Writers at Work 

I love creating content for you, dear readers. You have privileged me with access to your email inboxes, and I don’t take that privilege lightly. Even so, the writer and creative hats I wear as part of my Steadfast Center work can be a bit overwhelming. 

This spring, I was feeling a bit lost on how to make my work on Substack sustainable for the long haul. I needed to find that magic sweet spot of creating offerings y’all find essential and that I love sharing. 

So I joined the Substack Writers at Work community this summer, and it’s been saving my writing life! My writing is improving, I feel clearer about the future of Steadfast Soul Care, and I’m connecting with other creatives.