for they are the heartbeat and the freedom of your soul.
-Flavia
My "official" summer is finally here, I finished my last day of work for this past school year, and now I don't have to report back to my "9 to 5" job until August.
There is so much I want to do in the next 6 weeks, both fun stuff w/ my family and friends, and projects and tasks around my house.
I know that no matter how hard I try, I won't get it all done. I am not being a pessimist, it's just that I always put way too much on my plate, so it winds up being literally impossible to to do it all. That's ok though...if I can get just some of the "to do's" off my summer list, then I will be happy ;)
First off, I need to make my list, if I don't, I will never focus enough to get started on all that I want to accomplish.
Making the list is the first step. Some of the items on my list will be things I want to do "someday", not necessarily this summer, but most will be things I can accomplish within the next few weeks. I love being able to check off items on my list as I finish them. There will be fun things, like day trips or trying new things, like making homemade pickles, and chores that I never seem to find the time to do, like cleaning out under my bed (ugh!) and de-cluttering my closets. There are those projects I started that haven't been touched in weeks (or months!), that will make me feel so good when I can finally finish them. Then there will be the simple things, such as read a new book, or take time to sit in my garden and soak in all the nature around me.
Something I'm dreaming of right now, that cannot be accomplished this summer, but hopefully someday in the near future, is attending a women's retreat called Brave Girls' Camp. I had heard about it a while ago in a blog that I enjoy reading regularly called A Bushel & A Peck. From what I can tell, it is 5 days of women getting together for fun, food, creating, and support. Women from all different backgrounds & locations get to have a sort of big slumber party together. That's my interpretation of it anyway, check out the website and you can decide for yourself. It just sounds like something I would love to do someday, so I'd like to start saving up for it and make it a reality.
As I have mentioned before, I truly believe that women need each other in so many important ways. We all love our kids, our boyfriends, husbands, etc., but having girlfriends, mothers, or sisters, to confide in, to lean on, to share stories, hopes, and dreams, is so important. As women, I strongly feel we need to stick together. No one understands a woman more than another woman.
Now, it's time to get that list started and enjoy SUMMER!
Happy Summer & Happy Thoughts,
Lisa
I feel like through my experiences, especially those of the past 6 years, I have learned some important life lessons. The first, that loving someone "not matter what" is not always the best thing. Love and common sense, or self preservation are completely different entities. I used to be hopelessly romantic, now I'm a bit more practical (although I still treasure my romantic side). I know I'm still capable of loving deeply, but I won't confuse love with lust, fear of the unknown, or being afraid to make changes. Through many female friendships, I have found that most women really think they can't live without a man. Our society has trained us that way. What little girl doesn't dream of growing up someday to meet the man of her dreams, get married, have children and live happily ever after? In almost every romantic comedy out there, the heroine always winds up with a man in the end to make her happy. Well, life doesn't always work out that way ladies, and unless you are open to an optional scenario, you may be searching for something you'll never find, all the while missing out on having a fabulous life. Now, don't get me wrong, true love does exist, and there are great couples out there, but having a husband or significant other is not the "end all" to a happy life.