Look Up. Look Down. Savor

Ways to experience the richness of August

Hello Friends!

A few weeks ago when I was visiting my friend, that vision of the palm trees is what I saw when I looked up into the morning sky.

This morning, it was these clouds with the sun bursting through.

Sometimes it amazes me that wherever we go in the world, the sky is above us.

I have a deepening practice this week about looking up and noticing. That simple. Looking up helps me get perspective. I hope you’ll try it with me.

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August is here and the culture outside of us sends messages telling us to wrap up summer, put it away. Back to school sales, the stores full of Halloween decorations. Are you feeling that energy, that push?

We can tell the culture to back off. I say let’s try something different: pause, slow, savor. What if we didn’t rush the end of summer but let ourselves really experience the pleasures of this month?

What does it mean to savor? I have a few ideas…but want to explore savoring more deeply with you over these next four weeks. Let’s get started!

Writing Practice: Set aside 5-7 minutes for this practice. Write in a journal or open a ‘Journey with The Season’ document where you can return each Sunday.

Prompt: Make a list of summer sensory activities that you love and appreciate: tastes, sounds, smells, etc. Pick one item from the list that draws your attention. Describe it in full detail, imagining that you’re telling about it to someone who has never had this experience.

For example, how would you describe eating a peach to someone who has never tasted it?

Dipping your toe into a cool lake for someone who has never swum?

Smelling a rose for someone who has never experienced a rose?

Notice how you feel after your writing. There may be elements of summer that you want to seek out and savor.

Deepening Practice: Join me in a week of looking up. Step outside and check out the sky when you start your day. Take a photo if you like or just hold the image in your imagination. Write a sentence or two about what you see, how the sky changes, what it evokes in you. Send my way if you like!

Sharing a little magic:

I closed my summer writing circle on Thursday evening. Each circle I’ve led holds the energy of the beautiful participants who show up for each other to share creative self-expression. I am grateful to all of my summer circle participants! We closed the circle by writing this blessing:

Wishing you a week of love, creativity & blessings! Please invite folks who love creative self-expression to join us for August!