It’s Time to Design Your Summer
Hello friends, and happy Tuesday!
Today I want to explore something that one of my favorite podcast hosts, Gretchen Rubin, encourages her audience to do, which is to intentionally design their summer. The idea is simple, and so good: it’s an encouragement to make this season a time of rest, rejuvenation, and adventure.
As kids, this was easy. We’re set free from school in June and enjoy months of lazy mornings (unless you’re on swim team), summer nights, and weeks at camp. There’s an energy and youthfulness in the summer months that sends us back to school tan, happy, and excited to get back to learning.
As adults, the summers are a little different. We’re still working, there’s not much of a break (unless we make one!), and unfortunately, there aren’t as many summer camps for us. But that doesn’t mean we toss the spirit of summer aside! No – it simply presents a challenge for us to choose to lean into the summer and find that same joy in a new way.
Sound enticing? Sign me up!
Here are some ideas to get started:
- Picnic. Gather friends (or a friend) and picnic together once a week. To me, there’s nothing more “summery” than sitting outside on a long summer night, enjoying food and drinks and catching fireflies (okay, it’s still extra exciting for this California girl!) Picnics are deceptively easy, and once you have a blanket and basket in your possession, the world is your oyster!
- Read fun books. The summer is a great time to get lost in good books. Head to your local library or peruse the lists on Amazon (we also have a summer book list coming out next week!) and find something that catches your eye! Almost more important, give yourself permission to quit a book. If it’s not doing it for you, let it go and move onto something more captivating.
- Take your time off! I cannot say this loudly enough!! I am taking almost a month off at the end of this summer, and I couldn’t be more excited. Visit family, visit friends, go camping, hit the road – we’ve spent over a year cooped up and it’s time to spread our wings. If you haven’t claimed at least a week off this summer, go to your calendar right now, pick some dates, and email your boss.
- Jump into a new hobby! The summer is a perfect time to take on the new hobby you’ve been dreaming about. Last summer, I made so much ice cream from the Salt and Straw cookbook that I probably could have opened my own pop up shop. What have you been dying to try? Maybe it’s time to start waking up early and working on that novel, or sign up for a new workout studio. The opportunities are limitless!
Let’s not let the summer pass us by. Through intentionally setting aside time with friends, pursuing new hobbies, and spending time in the sunshine, we can enter into the fall happier, more present, and ready for the new year.
In Christ,
Jane
What we’re loving lately (on the blog and beyond!)
Corpus Christi Procession
This past Sunday on the Feast of Corpus Christi, our parish did the most beautiful procession around Capitol Hill with the Eucharist! I have never done a procession like this before, and it was incredible. It’s moments like these that make me so grateful and happy to be catholic! We processed with our pastor, Missionaries of Charity and Servidora (Servants of the Lord) sisters, and so many beautiful friends and families of our parish. If you have the chance to join in a procession next year, I cannot recommend it more highly!
Business Unusual with Barbara Corcoran
Loving this podcast with Shark Tank’s Barbara Corcoran! She’s so brilliant, sharp, and funny and I’m always in the market for some business savvy 🙂
Fighting for Me (Piano Version) – Riley Clemmons
This has been my on-repeat work song all week. It’s so dang good. Enjoy!
It’s a Hot Book Summer
Please hit reply and share your summer book recs with me! I’m going to share them in an upcoming post 🙂 All genres welcome and encouraged!
Liturgical Living with Gabriela R. A. Doyle
For The SundayMonday’s second year (!), we’re doing something a little different with Liturgical Living. We’ll be focusing on the Church’s given theme for the month in a deep dive, right here each week. Let us know what you think!
June is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This is one of the most popular Catholic devotions, but how much do you really know about it?
This devotion was handed down directly from Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1672 and is tied very closely to the First Fridays devotion, if you’re familiar with that. Images of the Sacred Heart and prayers and sacrifices for the conversion of sinners are central. But our Lord also made 12 specific promises to those who practice this devotion. Do you know all 12?! The last one is the best (eternal life altering huge), but my personal favorite is #7: “Tepid souls shall become fervent.” If you’re in a period of desolation or even “stocking up” on your consolations, look to the Sacred Heart for radical transformation of your faith. It also seems fitting to me that this matches up perfectly with a calendar year. If you adopt this devotion–even in little ways like saving a picture of the Sacred Heart on your phone–watch closely how God moves in your life over the next 12 months and keep me posted with a message on Instagram @gabrielaradoyle!
Learn more about the Sacred Heart here and tune in next week for more on how to practice this devotion, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, and fun liturgical living tips!
Words of the Week
“Genuine love is demanding, but its beauty lies precisely in the demands it makes.”
// Pope Francis
Intentions for This Week
For a beautiful and restful summer!
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Jane was born in Australia, raised in California, and is overjoyed to now call NYC home. She graduated from UCSB with degrees in Political Science and Communication and spent the past two years working in criminal justice reform. She is currently an MBA student at NYU Stern, focusing on entrepreneurship and strategy.