My words for the month have been: Let it go. Let it grow.

There’s something about the month of May that makes me just want to clean up. Clean up my yard, clean up my gardens, clean out my purse (diaper bag and tote bags lol) and my work back, clean up my house and space - I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the real feeling of a shift in the seasons or the wrap-up of the school year, but for whatever reason, I encourage you to clean up and let go.

Letting go allows for my space and with space means room for growth. Whether this is growth you can see like vegetables in a garden, flowers in a pot, or old rooms growing into spaces for new things OR growth you cannot see like letting go of an expectation, a feeling, or person - no matter what you let go of this month, I hope it creates more space for growth.

A big let go for me was going on my first solo trip since having my son! I had to let go of A LOT to make this happen - expectations, guilt, routines, schedules, thoughts, images, etc. In doing so though, I gained multiple days in which I had just about zero responsibilities. I enjoyed undistracted time with my sister, a trip to the movies in the middle of the afternoon, slow mornings, and a couple of airplane rides where I could actually watch movies and enjoy a beverage without pause or spill - what a gift.

Another big let go for me were a couple of ideas/projects I had for work this year. A few additions to my website and a couple of new ideas for social media content. When I realized it was already May, I gave myself permission to put it off until next school year. There’s no reason to rush these things. I can keep them on simmer, let them grow and evolve over the summer, and possibly put them into play next year.

I know this happens for a lot of us. We head into a new school year with big ideas. Some of them spark and light up in the Fall, and others we keep putting off, putting off, until we get to say, May, and we realize we didn’t get to them yet. Here’s the thing: Don’t let this get you down. You’ve done enough for this school year. It’s OK that you didn’t do the one thing or you didn’t get to that extra unit you hoped for, because next year that idea, that hope, that big project, getting to that unit, will move from the bottom of your to-do or wish list to the top.

Sometimes we just need to let go of something in its current time frame and bump it to the next one. Sometimes we need to let go completely. Growth happens in big and small spaces, so this month open something up. Let it go and let it grow.

With Love,

Lauren

Some things to write about or put into play this month:

• Have you let go of anything this May?

• What is one thing you can let go of or one more thing you can let go of?

• Do you get a urge to clean up once real Spring hits? What does clean up look like for you? Do you enjoy. it?

• What are you hoping to grow this month or this summer?

• Plant something. Maybe it’s flowers, maybe it’s full vegetable garden, but give yourself the gift of watching something grow. If you don’t have much of a green thumb, might I suggest outdoor potted plants - maybe a large tomato plant, a jalapeno pepper plant, herbs like basil or rosemary, or easy flowers like geraniums, begonias, petunias, or marigolds. Check their tags to see if they prefer lots of sun or partial shade, and work from there!

• Add in a little more outdoor time. As we head into summer, it’s really nice to add in a little extra outdoor time. I love outdoor time in the morning. There is nothing like enjoying your coffee or tea outside (as long as you don’t have horrible allergies!).

• Play around with a new soundtrack/playlist for this late Spring/Early Summer time frame.

• Add some new recipes to your rotation to try out. With summer on it’s way your local farm stand will be sharing all kinds of new and beautiful produce. Support your local farmers and support your body better by giving it some seasonal yum!

• Don’t forget to drink water :)