This summer, I’m planning to take it easy. Not in the beach-chair-tropical-NA-cocktail sense (though I wouldn’t say no to that), but rather in the being radically kind to myself kind of way. I’ll be spending the warm summer months cultivating a calmer, more grounded inner kind of easy: less anxious, less perfectionist, more present, more forgiving.
The truth is, life has been “life-ing” quite hard lately and it’s not likely to get easier any time soon. I recently reached an inflection point (as is common at the start of most internal change) that went like this: You can continue to be stressed every day about the news, your goals, and the insurmountable mountain of tasks on your to-do list, or you can learn to take it easy. What choice do I have really? So this summer I’m deliberately shifting how I approach responsibilities, work, and the many areas in which I constantly feel like I’m falling behind after a few tough years. I’m cultivating a softer mindset while I move through life, chipping away at what needs to be done while prioritizing my health, my happiness, and being present with the people I care about. I’m spending intentional time with my two kids before they leave (*brief sob*) for college and a semester abroad. I’m letting go of the idea that everything has to be done perfectly all at once (this is a hard one for me). I’m reconnecting with myself and I’m learning to just be. For me this means outdoor time, sunlight, and putting the phone down. It means writing, connecting with friends, gentle exercise, and sitting quietly on my porch at sunset. When I’m stressed I’m remembering my new mantra: I do ease now and bringing myself back to center. Progress not perfection.
Throughout this issue we explore the idea of reframing our stories with kindness, love and a bit more ease. Kristen Bear shares a beautiful essay about her journey into womanhood and finding her way back to herself, What I Would Tell Her, p.14. Maggie Klaassens offers five back-to-basics fundamentals for recentering yourself in sobriety and in life, Back To Basics, p.18. Ian and Carly Blessing, co-founders of All The Bitter, talk about rebuilding their lives around their family and the life they dreamed of, and creating a product that serves others, Spotlight on Ian and Carly Blessing, p.22. We discuss taking time out in your afternoon to enjoy tea and a period of quiet reflection or connection, Afternoon Delight, p.30. In our brand-new Ask A Coach column, Heather Lowe talks to two readers about treating yourself with ease and grace, Ask A Coach, p.32. And in our AFTER Thoughts section, we offer 12 ways to ground yourself literally and figuratively this summer, AFTER Thoughts, p.38.
I hope you’ll spend the upcoming weeks with me, returning to center, being kind to yourself, enjoying the warm weather, and taking it easy.
With love,
Nicole Pietrandrea Hough
