It's no secret that summer is my favorite time of year. Warmer weather and longer days provide abundant opportunities for rejuvenation of the body and spirit. Creation inspires us to slow down and gives a clearer sense of priorities. Family time becomes even more precious and vibrant.

But in Minnesota, summer is way too short. It seems like I barely blink, and September is here! (Apologies to my friends in the southern hemisphere--feel free to save this for later.)

Do you ever look back on the summer and think, "Where did it go?" Here's my challenge to you: Imagine it's September, and you receive the following e-mail from a friend...

"Dear Friend,
I'm sorry it has been so long since I wrote. Summer kept us busy and happy. I'll tell you all about it after I know your e-mail is working. How was your summer? You know I love details, so tell me everything! Looking forward to catching up...
Love,
Jennifer"

Now write a letter back to her, telling her about your summer. The more specifically you write, the more likely it is to come true.

Here's an example (now I'm pretending I received the above note from you):

"Dear Friend,

Great to hear from you! Summer was wonderful. I actually feel rested and ready to get back to the regular schedule of fall. And since you asked...

We went camping twice as a family, and, unlike last summer, I kept my composure in the rain! My reward was a two-day personal retreat. We made a point to picnic at least once a week (mostly just in our yard). There were far more outdoor free concerts this year than we could possibly attend, but we managed to hit a few of those and a couple of local baseball games. After living here nearly three years, I finally reached out to my neighbors and recruited two new walking buddies.

I cut back on my container plants so I could focus on the rest of the yard. We installed a clothesline, built a huge sandbox for the kids, and moved the swing set to make room for next year's vegetable garden. Meanwhile, I tried several new recipes (five of them were "keepers") using in-season veggies from our CSA farm.

My husband and I celebrated our 12th anniversary this summer. We started a new habit of getting up early once a week to sit on the deck and talk before the kids wake up. I finally let go of my babysitter hang-ups so we could go on real dates at least twice a month. Our relationship is better than ever.

Oh yeah, I did manage to work a little; my business is doing well after easing up for the summer and letting my mind rest. I have a ton of new ideas now!

I know it sounds like a lot, but it was actually quite relaxing, especially since we had three full months to do it. Tell me all about what you've been up to...

Love,
Jennifer"

This exercise will help you make time for what matters most to you this summer because it requires you to:

• Visualize your success as if it had already happened.
• Set measurable goals (two camping trips, five recipes, etc.) and a time limit (September).
• Put it in writing--making it far more likely to happen.

Reprint Information

Looking for free articles for your own website, e-zine or newsletter? If you’d like to use this article, click here for reprint information.

More Articles...