As summer and recreation season close, I wanted to share a few of the biggest lessons I learned. If you know the Elevation Approach framework, you know how important reflection is for moving forward. I’m excited for what fall will bring (exciting business announcements, beautiful leaves, my favorite holidays), but I’m hanging on to summer’s biggest lessons:

• Prioritize your health. At 44, I’ve become even more engaged with my health—physical, emotional, and mental. I’m taking my own advice and I’m writing this from SHA Wellness, an integrative health, prevention, and longevity clnic in Spain. I’ve spent days being poked and prodded, scanned and evaluated, all in the name of good health. My biggest takeaway? I’m really stressed. I thought I was handling things just fine, but the data show otherwise. It’s been an eye-opening experience and one I hope to repeat each summer.

• Escape the mundane. While European getaways are nice, exploring your own neighborhood can be just as inspiring. While I’ve traveled quite a bit this summer, my favorite moments were spent at…the Jersey Shore. My sister and brother-in-law love it there. I felt like I was rediscovering my childhood, and it was such a lovely reminder that a place 40 minutes from home can be just as inspiring as a faraway city.

• Make space for creativity. Summer can feel unexpectedly busy. There are kids’ camps, BBQs, and fun holidays, and it all moves so fast. I sought time to start writing and designing again. This has been a year of transition for me and in many ways, of grief. It’s okay to grieve the loss of careers we love, even if we move on to more things we love. Sometimes, in that loss, we also lose our creativity. I’m so glad to have mine back.

For more tips to lead a joyful life, check out my book, The Elevation Approach, available in stores now.

In harmony,

TW