As we close to the tip of summer season 2023, I’ve been reflecting rather a lot on what these previous few months have meant to me. The massive factor this summer season has proven me is that it’s potential to be going by a troublesome, making an attempt interval and nonetheless discover a lot pleasure. It’s proven me that two issues can exist on the similar time. This realization has given me quite a lot of confidence as I face what it means to become older—to have extra tasks and extra issues to fret about.
Even when a worst-case state of affairs occurs, I do know I nonetheless have so many fantastic issues to be grateful for. Loads of that is due to privilege, but quite a lot of it has come from making the selection to not surrender on the elements of life that matter most to me just because I’m consumed by worry. I may be afraid and nonetheless rise up every single day, transfer ahead, and stay life as totally as potential.
At present I’m recapping this summer season of transformation and sharing what the previous few months have regarded like in my life.
June
June was a extremely busy month. I did my greatest to help my children as college ended they usually moved into their summer season routines, whereas additionally making an attempt to navigate the ups and downs that got here with transitioning my enterprise and shutting an enormous chapter with my staff.
I felt actually numb all through quite a lot of this month. In the course of June, we made the announcement that Wit & Delight could be evolving into a brand new chapter, and I had a full-on breakdown. I’ve by no means been extra scared. I had some actually troublesome conversations and I discovered that the one factor you are able to do when issues break down like that’s to have grace for everybody concerned. This time interval felt like an ego loss of life.
As I attempted to navigate by the adjustments, I discovered intervals of pleasure within the in-between moments. On June 9, Joe and I went with a couple of associates to Chicago for the Useless & Firm live performance. I loved time in our new front yard. I introduced the Nine Pines design project—one thing I’m so excited to be engaged on.
All through the month, I spent loads of time exterior. I went to dinner events with associates, together with a beautiful dinner hosted by Brooke Faudree. I walked so many miles and performed quite a lot of tennis. Our household had a pizza night time at a close-by pizza farm. We went to the pool a ton. I ran within the rain with the youngsters. We celebrated Joe as he began a brand new job.
July
July kicked off with an prolonged household trip in Hilton Head. I assumed occurring trip was going to imply I might totally unwind, however this was not the fact. I used to be confronted with quite a lot of triggers from relations—one thing that was nobody’s fault. We simply fall into outdated patterns typically. I felt quite a lot of my success fall into query due to the alternatives I had made in June. I questioned my capacity to do that subsequent part by myself. I considered getting a company job and setting this house apart totally. It was a complete “Who am I?” second.
This month, I began to get actually nervous about the entire changes I’d made with Wit & Delight. Summer season has all the time been a extremely gradual time when it comes to incoming alternatives, however I didn’t know what this slowness would really really feel like this 12 months. The clever a part of me knew these adjustments wanted to occur however my ego positively didn’t take the quiet effectively. It was humbling, however one thing I wanted to face and begin to course of.
Amid all of this reflection and doubt, there have been some fantastic highlights. I took some unbelievable morning walks at dawn. When Joe was out of city for work, I took the youngsters out for pizza and ice cream. It felt actually significant to share these candy little moments with them.
I discovered the virtues of wide-leg slouchy trousers and located the perfect little black dress, which I’ve worn 4 instances already. I made my favourite potato salad recipe. I watched all of Wimbledon and noticed the Barbie film—even with the entire hype main as much as it, I used to be nonetheless blown away. I learn Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado. It’s my favourite e book I’ve learn this 12 months to this point. Her writing reignited the starvation in me to specific myself by phrases once more.
On July 9, I went to one in every of my favourite eating places, Myriel, to rejoice their second anniversary. The meals was scrumptious and the house was lovely as all the time. On July 16, the celebrations continued as we threw August an epic seventh party within the yard.
On the work entrance, I acquired the entire new Wit & Delight planners I designed for 2024. It was so enjoyable to see them in individual after the lengthy design course of. They’ll be that can be purchased beginning this fall! I additionally finalized quite a lot of design particulars for the 9 Pines undertaking and shared some colourful design updates in our basement family room.
On the finish of July, we went as much as Lutsen for our annual journey with Joe’s facet of the household. I had the perfect sandwich on the drive up at Northern Waters Smokehaus. We ate plenty of good meals and spent loads of time exterior. Yearly, I respect the simplicity of this journey increasingly.
August
In August, readability started to emerge for me round the place I’m at with work and the content material I need to create, notably because it pertains to my publication, House Call. I discovered myself feeling extra enthusiastic about what’s to return and discovering it simpler to get right into a movement state with work.
On August 1, I went to Goodwill and located an amazing set of canary yellow dishes. I’m so excited to entertain with them on numerous events to return. Talking of entertaining… I additionally launched a line of tabletop linens this month! I love how the entire patterned items turned out. You may store them now by September 13 on Etsy.
This month, we had a couple of epic afternoon thunderstorms and I liked each second. Attending to expertise the combo of thunderstorms and beautiful, sunny summer season days has been actually particular. I’m so grateful to have a mind that may entry such delight for each side of the spectrum.
On August 7, Birdie had surgical procedure to take away her tonsils and adenoids. The surgical procedure went effectively however the restoration was considerably troublesome. After per week or so, she was feeling so a lot better, and her respiratory and sleeping improved dramatically in comparison with pre-surgery.
On the studying entrance, I dove into Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and liked it a lot. I’ve discovered fantasy books to be such a optimistic escape for me in instances once I’m feeling adrift. It’s a lighter option to help me by troublesome instances.
I performed tennis extra days of the week than not. The method of studying to play tennis has taught me rather a lot about find out how to have a extra trusting relationship with my physique. It’s taught me to stay calm, even in continually altering circumstances, and to belief that I’ll know find out how to react. On the courtroom and off, I’ve been studying quite a lot of classes by the act of not giving up.
This summer season has felt completely different than summers previous. I’ve that twinge of melancholy that comes with the back-to-school season, but in addition a way of aid to be transferring on.
This summer season has felt completely different than summers previous. I’ve that twinge of melancholy that comes with the back-to-school season, but in addition a way of aid to be transferring on. Issues felt slower, heavier, and harder than typical by a lot of the season. I saved serious about how I wanted to be in this house, not run away from it. In the long run, I feel it was an actual reward to take issues slower and never attempt to numb the sophisticated mixture of happiness and unhappiness that drummed by the background of all our enjoyable summer season moments. I may be in the course of a extremely difficult time and nonetheless discover methods to carry pleasure to my life. I’m so grateful for that lesson.
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Kate is the founding father of Wit & Delight. She is at present studying find out how to play tennis and is eternally testing the boundaries of her inventive muscle. Observe her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.
