Sheila D. Boynton, LSW, MDiv, CTCP, CAMS-I
Hello Soul Family,
There is something about summer that naturally encourages us to slow down. The days are longer; the sun shines a little brighter. Life seems to invite us outdoors, to gather with family and friends, to take vacations, or my favorite – simply sit on the deck to watch another episode of my favorite show and a glass of iced tea to enjoy a quiet evening. While our calendars may still be full, summer has a way of reminding us that life doesn’t always have to move at the same relentless pace.
As a therapist, one of the things I notice most is how difficult it can be for people to pause long enough to recognize their own growth. We are often so focused on the next responsibility, the next goal, or the next challenge that we rarely stop to appreciate how much we’ve already overcome. We move from surviving one season directly into preparing for the next, without giving ourselves the opportunity to celebrate the progress we’ve made. What if this summer became your season to do just that?
Not because life is perfect. Not because every prayer has been answered or every goal has been accomplished. But because you’ve been doing the work. You’ve carried responsibilities, navigated disappointments, faced difficult conversations, set healthier boundaries, learned new coping skills, and continued moving forward even on the days when it felt difficult. Those moments matter. They deserve to be acknowledged and celebrated.
Summer can serve as a reminder that rest is not the opposite of productivity, it is part of it. Our culture often celebrates being busy. Our identities are attached to being productive. But our minds and bodies were never designed to operate without pause. Just as nature moves through seasons of planting, growth, harvest, and renewal, we also need seasons that replenish us. Rest is not something we earn only after we’ve exhausted ourselves. It is one of the ways we sustain ourselves for whatever comes next.
Perhaps rest for you looks like taking an afternoon off without feeling guilty. For me it’s spending time together with my grandchildren or friends who leave me feeling energized rather than depleted. Rest is taking walks while jamming to your favorite artist. Sometimes rest is allowing yourself a quiet morning before the demands of the day begin. These moments are not wasted time. They are investments in your emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
As summer unfolds, I encourage you to celebrate yourself, not in a way that seeks applause from others, but in a way that honors your own journey. Celebrate your resilience. Celebrate the healing that has taken place, even if there is still more work to do. Celebrate the courage it took to keep showing up when life felt heavy. Celebrate the version of yourself that refused to quit.
Before you know it, we will move into the rhythms of fall and the cold months of winter, so let this summer serve as your reset. Allow yourself to exhale. Release the pressure to constantly perform. Give yourself permission to enjoy where you are while preparing for where you’re going. The next chapter will come soon enough, but you’ll enter it with greater strength if you allow yourself to be restored now.
So, before summer slips away, ask yourself: When was the last time I celebrated how far I’ve come? If the answer has been “too long,” perhaps this is your invitation to begin.
- You’ve done more work than you realize.
- You’ve grown more than you sometimes believe.
- And you are worthy of celebrating, not because you’ve reached perfection, but because you’ve continued becoming the person you were created to be.
Here’s to a summer of sunshine, reflection, restoration, and well-deserved moments to simply breathe.
JOURNAL PROMPTS
- What is one challenge I overcame this year that I haven’t taken time to celebrate?
- In what ways have I grown emotionally, mentally, spiritually, or relationally over the past six months?
- What does “celebrating myself” look like beyond accomplishments and productivity?
THE SOUL’S CORNER…
- The Hidden Psychology Behind Feeling Overwhelmed, by Cathleen G Beachboard, MA, in Psychology Today.
- Episode 33: The B-Word: Mastering Boundaries with NedraTawwab on We Need To Talk on Darcy Sterling’s YouTube channel.
- Why We Get in Our Own Way and What to Do About It, by Robyne Hanley-Dafoe Ed.D., inPsychology Today.
