Choosing to be intentional
I always enjoy writing these posts. The ones when I share my intentions for the coming season. It isn’t necessarily about goals but about being in the moment and savouring what the season has to offer.
I think it’s really important to be intentional or we're in danger of missing out on such a lot. We’re so busy with everyday life, family and work that we miss out on what the season has to offer.
When I wrote the blog post about spring the effects of the coronavirus pandemic were just beginning to be felt. It was published a few days before we went into lockdown here in Britain. And, as I write this we’ve only had a very small and very limited lifting of the lockdown rules.
Even with all the restrictions that we’ve been living under when I look at the list I wrote for spring I’ve done pretty well.
Posies of cut flowers from my garden – the garden is just starting to produce enough blooms that I’m willing to cut some of them to bring inside.
Giving the garden a good spring tidy. Staying home has meant I’ve had more time than ever before to get this done.
Savouring a cup of tea in the garden and eating a meal outside (even if I have to wrap up to do it). Thanks to being blessed with so much warm weather I’ve lost count of how many cups of tea and meals I’ve eaten outside already. I’d spent more time in my garden by the end of April than I did the whole of last year! And I have a tan in early June for the first time in my life!
Learning to cook a new seasonal recipe. I’ve learnt several new recipes. Another bonus to having to stay at home.
Vases of daffodils and tulips. In abundance – it was wonderful.
Celebrating Easter – it was done virtually but it was still a lovely celebration.
Rediscovering my spring wardrobe - and my summer one thanks to some unseasonably warm weather.
Getting out for regular runs and watching the season change and develop. No running but daily walks for the last ten weeks. I’ve been taking photographs each day for a friend who is shielding and so can’t venture further than her own back garden. It’s helped me to really appreciate the smallest of changes from day to day.
It’s been the weirdest spring I’ve ever lived through. There has been fear, anxiety and painful loss and grief. We lost my grandad to the virus and the small funeral we had where we couldn’t give each other the comfort of a hug and had to go our separate ways at the end was hard. Really hard.
But, even in the midst of all the difficulties I’ve been able to appreciate the good in the world around me. Whether the amazing scarecrows that popped up all over my estate to keep us all cheerful and thank key workers. Or the beautiful display that mother nature put on this year. I’ve been grateful for my garden, for the good weather and the freedom to go out for a walk every day.
Looking forward to summer I really don’t know what's going to happen. Like everyone else I don’t know when I’ll be able to start seeing my family other than socially distanced garden visits. I don’t know when I’ll be able to meet friends again or attend a church service in person.
But I can choose where I focus my energy and attention. I can choose to make sure I’m intentional about appreciating the things I love about summer that are still available to me. So here’s my list. Some of them things that I normally take so much for granted that they’d never be on my list. Some of it written in the hope that before we reach the beginning of September I’m able to do all of these things legally. If not, I will have them to look forward to in autumn and beyond:
Posies of cut summer blooms from my garden.
Meals eaten outside at every opportunity.
Cleaning out my garden pond so that it is once again a welcoming home to frogs.
A walk on the beach at Llandudno.
Eating with my mum in her lovely garden.
Having a coffee and a catch up with a friend.
Hugging my mum, sister and nephew.
Celebrating my mum’s birthday with her in person.
It’s a modest list but it represents things that will make me happy. I have goals for my business, for my finances, for my health but this list is about the things that will make my soul happy. This list is about being intentional and not missing the little things that add up to a well-lived summer.
What will a well-lived intentional summer mean for you?
What are you going to put on your list?
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