Summer is a beautiful time to nurture our souls. Its lulling voice can be full of peaceful ripples or in-the-moment meditation so I try to take advantage of its beauty whenever I can. Of course, I need to hit the pause and reflect button to slow down the pace of life in order to make time for possibilities.
“Repose, leisure, peace, belong among the elements of happiness. If we have not escaped from harried rush, from mad pursuit, from unrest, from the necessity of care, we are not happy.” -excerpt from Happiness and Contemplation by Joseph Piper
For me, the beginning of the summer felt like a steeplechase race with a long to-do list. I was not nourishing my soul although I thought persistence would help me meet my expectations. Mid-July, I realized that the hustle and bustle pace needed to be reassessed. Was the constant heat making me aware of that? Rest and relaxation were needed. It was time to reflect on my one word, appreciate.
I appreciate the summer months. They are God's gift to life, a time to be restored bodily and spiritually but I don't always stop to "gift" myself with the space and time to allow myself to just be. (Mylinda Baits, 7 Soul-Nurturing Strategies for Those Who Support Others}
Sunday was my 46th anniversary and it was time for my husband and me to live our best sweet-summer-life getaway and just be at peace for two days. While we did not travel to the ocean, we did retreat to the countryside where the weather was teeming rain but that did not dissuade us from relaxing. Quiet alone time, a gorgeous cottage, and great food allowed us to see nature in a different way during our short summer celebration.
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| Photo by Mark Olsen on Unsplash |
What nurtures your summer soul?
Link your blog post or artistic expression so the Spiritual Journey Thursday community can read your post and comment. You can add a graphic, photo, or poem to the Poetryliscious padlet here. Thank you for celebrating with me this month.~Carol, August host of Spiritual Journey Thursday.
Thank you, Margaret Simon, for your direction in bringing this community together.
SPIRITUAL JOURNEY THURSDAY
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Goodness, your early summer sounds familiar. Trying to reach the finish line never really works for me. I'm so glad you got away into the country side and spent time with your husband. This post is such a compliment to the ideas I decided to share today. I caught up with your padlet – what a fabulous collection of beautiful images and thoughts. Thanks for hosting, Carol.
ReplyDeleteLinda, I am blessed that so many beautiful artistic expressions are on my padlet. Just looking at what others contribute soothes my soul. Be at peace as you start the new school year.
DeleteCongratulations on your anniversary. I'm glad the two of you could get away and relax. I struggled not to write about my struggles and focus on the goodness of summer. Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, the healing hand of the Lord reaches out to you as you begin another year of teaching those you love.
DeleteThank you, Carol, for your very nurturing post. And congratulations on your anniversary! My response is posted at https://www.susankoehlerwrites.com/post/thank-you-i-love-this
ReplyDeleteSusan, each post added has brought me such peaceful reading. Thanks for joining in this month.
DeleteCarol, congratulations on your anniversary! I'm glad you could take time away. I keep working on that idea, and occasionally I'm successful! Thank you for hosting and for your lovely image. I especially loved Brandon's song... thanks again.
ReplyDeleteI love Brandon's song, also, Karen. Gratitude fills my heart this weekend as my little grandgirls are here.
DeleteCongratulations on your anniversary, Carol. Summer is the perfect time to slow down and take stock of our lives. Thank you for inviting me to participate in this Spiritual Journey Thursday. I decided to take you up on the invitation. I have written something and posted it on my blog, but since I have never done something like this before I don't know what to do with it. Here is the link to my post. https://arjeha.wordpress.com/2022/08/04/spiritual-journey-thursday/
ReplyDeleteBob, I hope your birthday celebration continued into the weekend and given you much pleasure. Thank you for joining our group of writers.
DeleteThank you for hosting and happy anniversary!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the well wishes, Ruth. Be of peace.
DeleteCarol, happy anniversary, and wow! to that getaway you were able to take--nurturing and restful to be sure. Lovely! Your nature's shimmer poem is so beautiful. I don't see much dew these days, living in the desert, but your poem brings back all the wonderful memories of dewy summer mornings. This line: "dewdrops as visible as diamonds" really puts a picture in my head.
ReplyDeleteDenise, I found llittle scrungie bands with a rhinestone embedded for my little grandgirls. The 2.7 year old announced to her Mommy to look at her diamonds. Enjoy your new little grandchild.
DeleteCarol, as always your words are a fountain of blessing and inspiration. This is a perfect theme. Many of us are returning to school in the next few days and weeks and we must remember that nurturers need to be nurtured as well. Moments must be carved out for rest, reflection, celebration. Speaking of which: Happy anniversary! My husband were also married in August. God's abiding grace nurtures my soul at this time each year. Thank you for hosting us today.
ReplyDeleteFran, may each one of us in our little group be filled with God's abiding grace. I love that thought. Abiding is a word that lingers in my mind as a nourishing word. Peace to you today. I hear my little grandgirls talking very loudly this morning and feel blessed that they are with me this weekend.
DeleteCarol, thank you for these moments of peace and calm in what continues to be a worrisome beginning of school year for me. Hopefully, by next month, my mind will not be as preoccupied and I'll be able to contribute once again.
ReplyDeleteChris, the beauty of SJT is that everyone understands how life can be an interrupter. We are all hoping and lifting you up so that you can find peace. I do hope that administration and the board understands the value of their library staff.
DeleteSorry, I've arrived several days late. Thanks, Carol, for all you shared, but especially for these words: " I need to hit the pause and reflect button to slow down the pace of life in order to make time for possibilities." You always inspire and bring peace with your words and images.
ReplyDeleteRamona, at yoga yesterday our instruction kept emphasizing the word pause. I listened carefully so I could be at peace in the moment on my mat and throughout the day. I am glad that you are near your grands but also understand the stress of moving. Be at peace.
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