THIS SUMMER.... — Ashtyn Circle

choose to be intentional

I love the rich sense of freedom and ease summer evokes. Longer, more expansive days. Warm summer nights, inviting you to linger a little longer at backyard dinners with friends. Bonfires and firepits. Iced coffee and Arnold Palmers. Outdoor adventures. Cocktails poolside. Crisp salads. The slower pace of life.

Last summer, the carefree spirit of summer felt lost amid shutdowns and masks.

This summer, I am focusing on soaking in the season’s warm, laid-back days as much as possible.

Extra time hanging with friends and family. Water play with my boys. Iced coffee on repeat. More date nights with my hubby. More time spent caring for my soul…time in God's word and with my booty actually in a church seat. Shutting down work a little earlier on Fridays. Backyard bbqs. California road trips. Reading just for fun.

I want my time this season to reflect my deep desire to skip into fall feeling replenished.

I invite you to take a few minutes to pause and consider how you want to feel during this summer and at the end of the season. Energized? Restored? Relaxed?

I encourage you to select a word for this season, then use your word as your guide for choosing how to spend your time this summer.

Note the key word in that last statement…choose. We all have choices to make when it comes to how we spend our time. As Annie Dillard wisely observed, “How we spend our days is how we spend our lives.”

Don’t let this season scurry past you. Choose to be intentional with how you approach this season to make the most of the longer, bright sunny days it brings.

Cheers to summer!