It doesn't have to be a problem.

We put so much pressure on summer. 

The trips, memories, traditions and carefree feels. We want to make it count. 

Now that August is winding down and back-to-school is looming, what are you telling yourself about summer? 

If you’re a human with a human brain, you’re leaving the answer to this question to your unmanaged mind. It might be telling you summer was too short, that you were snappy here and stressed out there, not enough pickleball, too much work, and the weather!

Hey rockstar, see how you might be ruining summer for yourself? Let me tell you a story:

Our summer plans flew up in the air like messy confetti when insurance unexpectedly approved a big surgery I needed - right smack in the middle of July. 

We rallied to make it happen on really short notice - pre-op, post-op, travel to Florida for the procedure and recovery in the southern heat for two weeks. I’ve been in bed for the past month with my feet up - doctor’s orders. It’s been overwhelming and stressful - with a few setbacks to boot. And, I’ve still got a few weeks to go.

I could go on and on about how disruptive this way, how much I missed, couldn't do - still can’t do. 

But did I mention, surgery was a huge success? Like a game-changer? The pre-op work I did made for an easier surgery, the post-op compliance will serve better long term results. The request I made of my husband and kids to recover with me in Florida put my early healing in fifth gear. My mom even jumped in to help. And, how often does insurance deliver a pleasant surprise?

The fact that plans changed and summer wasn't what we thought it would be, doesn’t have to be a problem. 

But I have to manage my mind around that and think on purpose because there are days when I tell myself I ruined Summer 2023. I can let myself feel guilty, ashamed and selfish, and spiral downward fixated on that I Ruined Summer story (especially when the heat index in Jacksonville is 110 degrees and the kids are on their iPads, again!).

Or I can tell a different one: This was a game-changer summer. An investment in my future (and my family’s). It was hard and there were disappointments. And that’s all ok. It was a summer to remember, that’s for sure.

What about you? 

Will you let your lost luggage, teenager’s drama, work stress, lack of routine, ungrateful house guests or missed opportunities ruin your summer? OR can you process that disappointment, manage your mind and tell a more empowering story? 

It's not about thinking positively, it's about thinking purposefully. Your thoughts create your reality. Give it a shot.