Invest In A Sacred Summer
Whether you're 12, 45 or 75.
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“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
Sacred Summer
Until I was 17, summer was my time to let go. When the last days of June ended, twinkly summer butterflies of anticipation rushed in.
I'd slip off my shoes—and fall head first into the wilds of July.
Tight schedules loosened their noose. The pace and pressure from the school year evaporated. I was free to be me.
This isn’t a blame game. My parents didn’t put this pressure on me. Instead, I happily donned a heavy backpack of should’s and ‘targets’ keeping me in line for a good 9 months a year. Looking back, as young as 8, I remember the weight of expectations that cinched my shoulders during the school year. The load distracted me. It didn’t allow the light to fully seep into the cracks of my unique character.
Sigh. It often confused me how school was pitched as the learning arena. For me, it often got in the way of my expansion.
By contrast, summer was open sesame. A gateway for growth and exploration. I swear my thick hair and stubby nails grew more in June, July and August than the rest of the year combined. Deep friendships were forged. First sweaty loves cemented. New versions of Hopey popped up. All of these signals surprised the bejeezus out of me.
And then I grew up.
Or became a grown up. Got boobs. A succession of jobs and work. Bought cars. Rented and owned houses. Married. Had two kids. Moved about the globe.
Summers stopped feeling free. Time became regimented. Year after year. Into one flow.
Even as a middle-aged mother of two, I’ve often felt guilty for wanting that sense of time freedom again. I accepted that’s just what happens when you adult.
But in 2023, a 75 year old mentor shared an honest quip. Hope, you’re getting so serious and formal with your time. He shared perhaps I needed to consider having a Sacred Summer?
A what, you say?
A Sacred Summer is intentionally choosing to review time with a new angle. An opportunity, at any age, to switch up the rhythm and open up for the summer. This could be a few weeks. A month. Or go hog wild and take the entire summer season?
It means when July comes…
I pivot how I view time in my life.
I slow.
I flow.
I reflect.
I reset.
All of this muddling and meddling with time makes space for play. Like I remember summers to be.
Heck, if my friend was able to do it at 75, I decided I could too. He urged me to consider Kairos time vs. the Chronos time we’ve all synced our lives with.
Chronos is the forward propelling time that we measure with clocks, on watches, and by the evolutionary phases of the moon. But time does not end there.
The Greeks’ second word for time is “kairos” — lesser known but no less important. “Kairos” is what many philosophers and mystics would refer to as “deep time”.
To grasp kairos time we have to release some of our anxiety around chronos time. A Kairos moment can emerge anytime… It may be as simple as recognizing the sudden urge to stroll in the fresh air to clear your mind. Trust that this act of self-care is not frivolous, but time well-spent. Meditation, leisurely reading, walks, gazing out the window, fishing, appreciating art, dancing, slow cooking, engaging in heartfelt conversations, and acting on your intuition—all these practices keep you present, open, and aligned with the moment.
This decision to choose a Sacred Summer and explore Kairos seeded my entire year ahead. Yes. A switcheroo in July made all the difference.
Sidebar—of course I still have to work, but interestingly with the intention to approach time Kairologically, transforms my work day and relationships to feel ripe with possibilities.
Side Affect— My teens noticed me playing with time last July. They got a huge kick out of seeing their mom find freedom. In a world where adult-hood can often seem daunting and overwhelming for our younger generation, they shared how refreshing it was to witness me experience letting loose. My hope? Watching me dip into Kairos time gives them permission to have their own adult sacred summers.
My invitation to you
What rhythm can you slow, shift, reflect on this summer?
How can you weave in more play, test drive new ideas, and cultivate seeds of creativity with a different approach to time?
Pay attention to when you immerse yourself in Kairos time. The signal? Watch when you lose track of Chronos time entirely. You'll find yourself in a state of flow that defies measurement—only to be experienced. Do. More. Of this.
Find an trusted wise elder in your life (preferably not your parents) even a decade older to act as a mentor. Spend some time with them. Beauty and connection will unfold.
Curious to explore a new rhythm? Book a 1:1 call with me here.
This Sacred Summer, as well as coaching my clients, I’ve made space for a bunch of expansive projects. I’m priming my pivot pump with creativity for the year ahead!
Stay tuned. I’ll drop details in here over the coming weeks.
xHopey
Hope Sparks Spotlight
Get ready for the spotlight because I'm thrilled to showcase the incredible work my clients are unleashing upon the world. I want you to meet these remarkable individuals too!
Meet Lisa Goldberg. After selling her sensational Art + Science business—she focused on mothering and visioning what else she had up her sleeves. Like many of my clients, Lisa landed on my step with an armful of incredible ideas. She needed a trusted someone in her corner to support the what, who, when and how.
I had the unique position to shepherd and support her bringing her new business to life. An approach to community engagement that cuts through the often unmistakable whiff of marketing B.S.
She realized people are tired of being pandered to, oversold, or commodified with logos. Instead, they crave genuine interactions, both online and in person, that foster real connections around shared interests.
Enter Ordinary Folks. Think of Lisa Goldberg as your Brand & Fan Matchmaker, Therapist, and Party Planner all in one! Her mission is to help companies connect authentically with their audiences. She does this by crafting communication strategies, nurturing partnerships and sponsorships, and transforming events into customized experiences that can be measured and where every voice counts.
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In your corner,
With love,
Hope