I’m embracing late summer as a season of its own, & finding that this softer mindset eases the transition between summer and fall.
I’m also sitting with this question more and more: “What is bringing me joy, ease, and abundance right now?”
Those three words—joy, ease, and abundance—have become especially meaningful to me lately.
This morning, I sat down with that question and my journal.
Here are eleven things I wrote down:
11 Things Bringing Me Joy, Ease, & Abundance, the Late-Summer Edition
#1 Journaling
I’m no stranger to journaling. I started my first diary when I was ten years old.
But this season finds me living through many transitions—emotionally, vocationally, and in about every way as a woman.
Journaling throughout the week helps calm and sort my thoughts, as well as bring clarity to emotions that often feel overwhelming.
I’m especially enjoying the generous margins of this pretty journal from Amazon. It’s become more of a common place journal than a diary, thanks to the extra space for writing.
#2 Qigong
My homeopath recommended that I give Qigong a try. I did and I’m hooked! These gentle routines are incredibly helpful for relieving stress and tension in my back and shoulders, and I find them calming when I'm feeling stressed or anxious.
I follow Mimi Kuo-Deemer on YouTube, and do her shorter (15-minute) quigong routines at least four or five times a week.
#3 Listening to Podcasts
Right now, I’m listening to Melissa Peters’ podcast, “Traditional Chinese Medicine for Christians” once or twice a week on my drive to work, and “One Extraordinary Marriage” once a week with Jeremy. 🎧
#4 Prioritizing Sleep
More specifically, I’m prioritizing:
Going to bed by 9 or 10 o’clock on weeknights.
Going to bed with Jeremy every night (versus one of us staying up later or going to bed earlier).
The perks of this are pretty obvious: I’m getting more rest, which makes a huge difference in my physical and emotional energy during the week.
And Jeremy and I are enjoying the extra time to connect and cuddle at the end of the day—something we’d neglected for far too long after more than 20 years of marriage.
(If you can’t tell, I’m not a fan of the “sleep divorce” trend that’s circulating right now.)
#5 These Essential Oils
I’ve got the following three essential oil blends in my diffuser right now:
“Lavender & Magnolia” — floral and soothing
“XOXO” — sensual and feminine (I have this in the perfume, too)
“Earth & Wood” — masculine and grounding
These oils blend beautifully in the “Bloom” ceramic diffuser from Edens Garden. (The oils are from Edens Garden, as well.)
#6 Going Back to School
Yes, going to school brings me joy! 📚
After a decade of talking and planning and dreaming about going back for my degree, I finally took the plunge this August. I’m working on finishing up my basics right now, with a specific degree in mind… which I’ll share later.
This semester, I’m taking Art Appreciation, American History 1, and Intro to Psychology. At 45, I’m having the time of my life sitting in a classroom again a few hours a week!
#7 Dating Jeremy
After 24 years of marriage, Jeremy and I are intentionally in a season of rediscovering each other—or more specifically, getting to know who we have become after decades of parenting, ministry, and life.
Jeremy likes to call this season our “second marriage,” which seems fitting. We’ve both grown and changed a lot since we first met in college at 19 and 23 years old.
I’m happy to say that we’re more crazy about each other than ever, which makes dating in our 40s even more exciting than it was in our 20s. 💕
#8 Working
Jeremy and I both love to work, which is good—because we’re both working a lot right now!
(Tell me you’re an Enneagram 1 and 3 couple, without telling me you’re an Enneagrem 1 and 3 couple….)
I’m grateful that the work I do—both as a hospice chaplain and freelance writer— feels meaningful and rewarding.
And after years as a full-time stay-at-home mom, contributing to our family finances in a meaningful way feels really good, too.
#9 Using My New Planner
Jeremy bought me a new planner when I went back to school this fall and I absolutely love it!
This time, I picked the “Pineapple Charm” weekly planner to track my school and work assignments. 🍍
You can check out my Simplified Planner review here on the blog, or shop Simplified planners here.
#10 Walking My Treadmill
It’s too hot to walk or jog outdoors in Texas right now! And yes, I’m 100% a fair-weather jogger. 🥵
Last winter, I invested in an at-home DeerRun treadmill and it’s been worth every penny. These days, I hit the treadmill while I’m watching an online psychology lecture—helps me get my steps up while I tackle homework.
#11 These Candles
I’m not quite ready to decorate for fall yet, but I am ready to embrace some of the cozy vibes I look forward to this time of year.
These pretty soy candles are a happy transition from late summer to early fall. If I’m still feeling summery, the “Spun Cotton” or “Limoncello” are my go-to favorites. If I’m ready to embrace something more autumnal, I go with “Toasted Pumpkin” or “Black Currant” (shown below).
I’ve been a customer of this Etsy seller—906 Candle Co—for about five years and highly recommend them! These candles make great teacher gifts, too.
What’s bringing you joy, ease, or abundance right now?
Grab your journal—or the Notes app on your phone—and write down the first ten things that come to mind. Don’t overthink it, they don’t have to be profound.
Sometimes abundance looks like meaningful work or a relationship you treasure. And sometimes joy looks like a new candle that makes your house smell a little more like fall (even in late summer).
I’d love to hear your things, so leave me a comment or hit reply!
Veritas et Gratia,
Kristy 💐