Reflecting on the summer

Hello my Brightside girlies!! I can't believe I'm typing this, but happy Labor Day Weekend. I hope this is the only email you open until Tuesday <3

I was sitting down to write today's Brightside, reflecting on the season, and man - it's hard to describe this summer. In typical Bogs fashion, I had pretty much every weekend scheduled down to the minute, and to be honest it feels like a relief to reach Labor Day and usher in a low-key fall. I don't have any big travel plans, and I'm excited to watch the season change from my terrace - my goal is to make the absolute most of my tiny slice of outdoor space until frostbite threatens my appendages.

It feels weird to admit that sense of relief about summer ending - it's like, antithetical to my Leo nature. And it's hard to articulate what I mean when I say relief. The summer was a blast, but it wasn't without its challenges. I really struggled with being single, which feels embarrassing to admit, but maybe some of you can relate. I forgot what a weird dating-wasteland NYC turns into in the summer, and only within the last few weeks that I realized I this. I was like "oh wait, maybe this isn't a me problem, this is just a really hard season to date here". Everyone's traveling and less committal than ever (the bar is already on the floor in this department, so this is saying a lot). But I got sick of journaling "I'm soooo single" - so I made space for loneliness when it arose and sought out ways to enjoy my own company which feels like a really important lesson right now. (Silver lining, this has resulted in maybe my most killer playlist yet: Me Time)

This summer has also been a lesson in striking a balance between discipline and rest, especially with The Brightside. I find that I go through super-focused periods, experience creative burnout, then chill for a while, and I'm trying to establish more consistency with my creative process. And at the same time, trying not to overthink things. At dinner a few weeks ago I was listing off all the things I want to do this year, and my friend Kaity asked "but what will make you happy?" - which, simple as it was, really helped put some things in perspective. And the answer to that question? Crank out a zine and publish a bigger piece of writing I've been working on for a while. Stay tuned :)

If can report on anything markedly positive from the summer it's that I felt a big shift in my relationship with myself -- I feel more "on my own team" than I've ever been, if that makes sense. I attribute this to advice my friend Rachel gave me in the spring -- when a big feeling comes up, instead of trying to push it away, she recommended saying to myself "I completely understand how you're feeling. That makes sense, how can we move forward?" It's required practice and intention - but this has become my default reaction when dealing with things that feel sticky -- and trust me, as a recovering perfectionist, this is big progress. Again, it sounds simple, but just treating myself with compassion has been a journey and I'm proud of the progress I've made.

So cheers to a new season and whatever it has in store. Don't forget, the name of the game this year is to be blown away -- what magic are you inviting in as we roll into September? How are you making space to be in awe of the small magic moments?

Here if you wanna talk,
Bogs