Forget Summer Bucket Lists...Instead Let's Make this a Light Summer

Since the last time I wrote to you, I worked through one of the hardest things I’ve ever done (and no, it wasn’t parenting during the last two weeks of school 😉)…it was 29029 Everesting in Sun Valley, Idaho -  an endurance race with the aim to climb the equivalent of Everest (29,029 feet) in under 36 hours.

Starting in November, I’ve been using the Light 56 framework to track my training from daily walking & cold plunging last fall to the intense training plan that started in January. To keep it from becoming all-consuming and to practice some of the Light 56 principles, I tracked gratitude, mindfulness, and a little bit of fun this spring.

To celebrate the Summer Solstice & Strawberry Full Moon, I wanted to give you some simple ways to start your Light Summer...

🌕 Release & Reflect 

It’s serendipitous that the Summer Solstice coincides with a Full Moon (aka the perfect time to release). Take a few minutes to conduct a Spring Exit Interview with these four questions:

• What did you learn?

• What felt light?

• What felt dark?

• What are you giving yourself permission to enjoy this summer?

Based on this interview, decide what would serve you best to release heading into summer (expectations, perhaps 😉). Write them down and burn or destroy them, or simply say the release out loud under the full moon!

💫 Summer Mantra or Word 

Consider setting a mantra or word for the summer season. Here are a few ideas:

• My relationship with _________ is more important than anything else.

• A swimsuit body is a body with a swimsuit on it.

• I am enough.

• I’m grateful.

• I get to …

• The only thing I control is my own reaction.

• Find the positive.

• Look for the reasons you are enough or belong.

• Find a word on the Feeling Light Feelings Wheel here (or snap a screenshot here)

☀️ Reframe Your Summer Bucket List to a Musts & Extras List 

Prioritize (and maybe reset expectations for) your summer activities list. I love to simply break lists into what is a Must (top priority & required) and Extra (everything else). This is a simple approach to find what truly matters!

📃 Lighten Your Mental Load by Creating a Dirty Laundry List 

Sometimes, the best way to feel light is to acknowledge the dark, heavy, boring, or exhausting things and plan for progress. This exercise helps release your invisible load and lightens up your mental to-do list.

• Step #1 – Write down everything you need to do. Get it out of your head so it won’t weigh on you daily or nightly.

• Step #2 – Prioritize the list by first creating musts for July, August, and September, then add in the extras accordingly.

• Step #3 – Give yourself time. Block time on your calendar marked Dirty Laundry and remember you don’t need to do it all immediately!

• Step #4 – Add additional to-dos as they come up. This doesn’t need to be your daily to-do or chore list but should include irregular tasks like booking doctor appointments, filing taxes, updating your will, or scheduling your annual mammogram.

 😎 Summer Challenge

There are many ways to do a summer challenge that are fun, easy and memorable -  I’d love to help you craft one for yourself or your family. Our summer challenge is to play every board and card game we own and get rid of any we no longer like (fun meets decluttering 😉). Drop me an email and I’ll help you come up with something fun! Also, keep an eye out for my upcoming Light Summer Guide.

✨ Create a Glimmer Jar or Jar of Awesome

I love this as an annual tradition (hello Martha Stewart). If you didn’t start in January, now is the perfect time to begin this simple tradition with your family. Write down special moments (both big and small) on a little note and keep them in a Glimmer Jar or Jar of Awesome (a simple mason jar works great). Then, select a special day to open the jar and read each note to celebrate and reflect. If you start now, it could be a great activity for the winter solstice or before heading back to school.

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! WHAT DOES YOUR LIGHT SUMMER LOOK LIKE? WHICH OF THESE IDEAS ARE YOU GOING TO TRY?  WHAT DID YOU DISCOVER WITH YOUR SPRING EXIT INTERVIEW?

IT'S TIME FOR YOUR LIGHT SUMMER! ☀️

With love, gratitude & sunshine!

Morgan 💕

PS - Just a gentle reminder that Living Light looks different to everyone and varies from season to season. It generally combines finding alignment and practicing: gratitude, joy, calm, progress, confidence and feeling bright or fully alive. If you’d like to dig into understanding what living light means to you check out the Find your Light Habit Quiz or book a free discovery call!