The Recipe for a Healthy Soul

A salt-and-pepper photo-essay to feed a weary heart

Unlike any other season, summer takes away my feelings of structure. It’s beautiful and unwieldy. Slow mornings, water play, ice cream every week: sure! But I’m also a creature who longs for steadiness and predictability.

Because I want to pour into my family, to pursue fun and joy and the simple things of summer — pouring into myself is essential. Remembering what is soothing and orienting and restful. Remembering to take care of myself.

What makes a summer-fun me?

Here’s my current recipe (below). Some days have a dash more art or a splash of napping on the couch. Others get a scoop of let’s-have-ice-cream-for-dinner. (My son has declared it the Summer of Twenty Ice Creams, so we’ve got a lot of flavors to fit in!)

What’s your recipe? What makes a rested YOU in this season?

Slowly sipping warm drinks in whatever silence I can get.
Defragmenting.
Breathing.

Reading fiction, a balm to my buzzing mind.

Nature.
Big skies, tiny bugs.
Crafting with treasures.

A fine-tipped pen scratching against paper.
Words flowing.
The beauty of cursive
and language
and ink.

Mixing colors and flavors.
Mindfully savoring.

Care to share your recipe? Please leave a comment!

Warmly,

Rachael

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This post is part of a blog hop with Exhale—an online community of women pursuing creativity alongside motherhood, led by the writing team behind Coffee + Crumbs. Click here to view the next post in the series “Fun Mom Summer.”