Don’t Waste Your Summer

There’s something about summer that just has a different vibe and aura to it. A large reason for that is a lot of us have jobs that change structure during the summer like getting summers off as a teacher, or I know my publisher lets folks go early on Friday to enjoy the day. For whatever reason, summer is just flat out amazing (and especially so in Washington State where I was born and raised). One thing though I’ve been known to do is just let the summer skate by. It’ll get to first week of September and I’ll ask, what did I do this summer? So I’ve started to have a few goals or things I try to operate by in the summer. Below are just a few. What are some you would add?

1. READ – I love to read. Seriously. Alyssa even calls books my love language. But summer especially is a fun time to use all the margin and down time to pick up a book and get lost in it. I also like to keep the reading list/goal very diverse. Right now in my cue to read next is a book on mass incarceration in America, one on how the gospel was good news in the first century, and a novel called The Circle. What are you reading this summer?
2. EAT – Alyssa and I are huge fans of eating, and also really and strongly believe eating is one of the most sacred things you can do. Sharing a meal with others is the little sanctuaries throughout the day where stories are told, relationships are formed, and guards are let down. We believe life happens at the table (so much so I dedicated an ENTIRE chapter to the concept of the ‘table’ in my next book. Can check it out and preorder and get insane amount of goodies here).
3. REST – Alyssa and I have been learning and practicing sabbath for awhile now. It’s hard with our life schedule, and will travel, but we try really hard to set a rhythm to our week. Set aside a day for playing, for eating, for celebrating, and for phones off. It gives us incredible life and joy and peace and is something we look forward to. Oh by the way did I mention I have a whole chapter on sabbath too in my next book? ha

How are you redeeming the summer? What rhythms do you like to set or live by? What books are you reading?