Sunshine, Stillness, and Self-Care

I blinked - and just like that it's June.

My garden is growing, the sun is warm, and the sounds of summer are calling. Here in Canada, that means we have just a few precious months to truly savour the season - to stretch out in the sunshine, soak up every golden hour, and lean into the slower rhythm that summer so graciously offers.

This year, I'm keeping things simple. My summer self-care escape isn't about jetting off somewhere foreign and glamorous (though I'll never say no to a passport stamp and I love a swank hotel). For me, it's about ease. Easy entertaining. Easy dressing. Easy moments shared with people I love. 

Last weekend we sipped *summer water* (that's white wine, if you're wondering), enjoyed dinner on the deck, and lingered over laughter and conversation at a friend's home. Honestly, it felt like luxury. We hadn't seen them in a while, because, well life gets busy. But of course, we picked up right where we left off...the way good friends always do.  

We do have one special trip planned - a long weekend getaway to Victoria in August with our 14-year-old grandson, Coen. Last year we took our 17-year-old granddaughter Zoe, to Toronto where she saw a Blue Jays game (bucket list for her) and visited Niagra Falls and Niagra-on-the-Lake. It's a little tradition we're starting: one-on-one adventures to create memories, that go beyond birthdays and holidays. This year with Coen we will wander through the stunning Butchart Gardens, go whale watching, and take in the Symphony Splash - a magical outdoor concert where the music floats on the water in the inner harbour and the whole city gathers to celebrate. 

It also happens to be my birthday weekend. And truthfully, I can't think of a better gift than time with people I love.

All of this has be thinking about how travel - whether near or far - has a way of revealing something deeper. When we step away from our daily lives and routines, we see not just more of the world ... we see more of ourselves. 

It doesn't have to be fancy. You don't need a five-star resort or a packed itinerary. You just need presence. A shift in pace. The space to ask yourself: What do I want today, just for me?

Even the act of dreaming about a self-care escape can be transformative. Maybe it's a solo trip. Maybe it's a staycation with your phone on do-no-disturb. Maybe it's a walk with someone who makes you feel like yourself again. 

So let me ask you gently:
What would a self-care escape look like for you?

I'd love to know. Because I believe that giving ourselves the gift of rest, pleasure, and perspective isn't self-indulgent - it's self honouring. 

And summer is the perfect time to begin.

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