This summer didn’t look exactly the way I pictured it.
Back in May, summer seemed like it stretched out endlessly in front of me. I imagined afternoons in the sun, days at the lake, and maybe even a swimming pool in the backyard. There always seemed like there would be plenty of time.
And then, somehow, August arrived.
Even though I didn’t get around to everything I had hoped to do, this summer still gave me some really good moments.
One of the things I’m happiest about is creating our cozy backyard retreat, a DIY project I shared about earlier this summer. I wanted a space where I could walk outside, sit down, and feel like I had my own little getaway without ever leaving home.
And even during a summer that has been incredibly hot, that backyard became a place I actually used.
The Summer I Actually Had
There were warm evenings outside, the hum of summer in the background, and plenty of meals cooked on my Blackstone grill. The Blackstone was a gift from my husband, and it quickly became one of my favorite parts of the season.
There’s just something about cooking outside that feels like summer.
The sound of food sizzling on the griddle, the smell drifting through the backyard, and standing outside while dinner cooks make an ordinary meal feel a little different.
Whether it was burgers, breakfast on the griddle, or my husband’s favorite hibachi chicken and rice, those meals became some of the simple moments I’ll remember from this summer.
They weren’t big trips or perfectly planned summer adventures.
They were just life happening in our backyard.
And maybe that’s part of what I’m realizing.
I had plans for this summer that never happened.
I wanted to spend more time soaking up the sun. I wanted to get a swimming pool. I wanted to make it to the lake at least once.
But time got away from me.
At the beginning of a season, it always feels like there is so much of it ahead. Plenty of weekends. Plenty of sunny afternoons. Plenty of chances to say, “We’ll do that later.”
Then ordinary life fills the days.
Work gets done. Projects take longer than expected. The house needs attention. Plans change. One week rolls into another, and suddenly you’re wondering where all that time went.
I could look back on this summer and focus on the things I didn’t do.
No pool.
No lake day.
Not quite as much time in the sun as I imagined.
But that wouldn’t tell the whole story.
Because I also created a backyard space I love.
I spent evenings outside.
I cooked countless meals on the Blackstone my husband gave me, and it became something I genuinely enjoyed using.
I made ordinary days feel a little more like summer.
Maybe a season doesn’t have to look exactly the way we pictured it in order for it to be good.
Before I Give In to Fall
That’s something I want to remember as fall starts creeping into my thoughts.
Because I’ll admit it: I’m ready for it.
I’m already thinking about cooler mornings, cozy blankets, candles, soups, pumpkins, and all the things that make fall feel like fall.
But I don’t want my excitement for the next season to make me rush through the one I’m still living.
August still has something to offer.
There are still warm evenings and dinners cooked outside. There is still time to sit in the backyard after the sun starts going down. There are still nights left to enjoy.
Maybe I’ll even squeeze in one of those things I never got around to.
And if I don’t?
That’s okay too.
I’m learning that embracing the season I’m in also means allowing it to be imperfect.
Not every plan has to happen.
Not every item needs to be crossed off the summer bucket list.
Sometimes the best memories are the ones we never planned for in the first place.
So before I completely give in to pumpkins and cozy fall days, I want to enjoy what’s still here.
I want to grill another dinner outside.
Sit in the backyard a little longer.
Notice the warmth of the evening instead of wishing for cooler days.
And appreciate this summer for what it actually was instead of comparing it to what I thought it would be.
What about you?
Did you have plans for this summer that never quite happened? Or did something unexpected become one of your favorite parts of the season?
Maybe there’s still time for one more summer memory.
But even if there isn’t, I hope we can look back and appreciate the moments we did have.
The season doesn’t have to be perfect to be worth remembering.
And I don’t have to rush into the next one before this one is finished.
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