What Is Your Summer Intention (+ 9 ways to say “no”)?

Green was the silence, wet was the light, the month of June trembled like a butterfly. Pablo Neruda

Thursday morning after my forest-based workout, my friend Laura asked me to join her and her kids to pick strawberries. Thinking of the mountains of emails and event contracts that awaited me and before, “No, I have to get to my office,” could come out of my mouth, I paused. I’m really intent on embracing a magical, slower, more sensual summer and what better way to do this than to stroll through fragrant, bountiful strawberry bushes picking and snacking on one of the season’s most delicious gifts? The answer was, “Yes!” For me, this choice represented the summer my soul desires. What’s your intention for summer 2025?

Perhaps you’re overextended and craving unscheduled time to do nothing? Or, are you being called to learn a new skill or hobby? Or if you’re exhausted, you may need to pull out your calendar and block out periods for deep rest and relaxation in nature? We’re living in a time of the unknown and navigating constant chaos and uncertainty. But, that doesn’t mean our self-care has to get shelved. Pause for a moment and think about how you want to experience this summer.

If you’ve ever had the experience of waking up on Labor Day and realizing your summer went way too fast and was not truly replenishing, you know how key it is to enter this magical time with purpose and vision.

One of the most popular tools from my life balance book, The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life, is the “Nine Ways to Say No” list from my chapter on Managing Your Energy. We have a finite amount of energy. And our energy—our life force—is precious. In addition to often over-committing, most of us waste a lot of energy through overwork, endless hours on screens or engaging in activities that don’t truly feed us.

When we say “no” to the “shoulds” and those things that are non-essential—we can say “yes” to what matters most. Learning to say “no” is like weight lifting—the more you practice saying it, the stronger you become. Here’s support and my nine creative ways to say “no”!

This summer, my theme is creative expression, and I plan to go offline in June so I can deep dive into writing, reading, crafting songs and poetry, swimming, growing herbs and vegetables, cooking peach desserts galore and taking long meandering walks by the river.

As you look at your summer months and consider a new work, family, volunteer project or commitment, before you commit, check in and ask, “What is my heart’s greatest desire this summer … and what do I most need?” Taped to my laptop is my favorite quote from German poet Goethe: “Things which matter most should never be at the mercy of things which matter least.”

Warmly,

READY TO LIVE MORE INTENTIONALLY? HERE ARE FOUR OPPORTUNITIES:

• Book your fall self-care retreat now!  Join me September 19 – 21^st at The Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, NC or October 24 – 26^th at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in the Berkshire Mountains, MA for Soul Tending: Cultivating Grace, Power and Intuition ~ A Women’s Self-Renewal Retreat.  Both will sell-out, so don’t delay! These are amazingly affordable retreats and both offer complete packages starting around $700.
• Lead women’s groups/retreats! Secrets to Facilitating Life-Changing Women’s Groups/Retreats ~ an online, self-paced mentoring course. Would you like to empower women in your area through facilitating women’s groups/retreats? Based on Renee’s 30+ years experience training 450+ facilitators and teaching at world-renowned retreat centers like Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health and Esalen Institute, this empowering on-demand video course offers everything you need to start facilitating women’s circles and retreats. Only $195. Learn more.
• Plan a 2025-2026 workshop for your team/organization. Did you know my primary work is speaking professionally at national/regional conferences, employee events and to companies/organizations worldwide? I love weaving neuroscience, work-life alignment strategies, mindfulness & resiliency practices to create unforgettable workshops & presentations that help employees and teams feel more creative, focused, resourced and alive. Learn more about my speaking here.
• Join me in NC for a Wild Souls Nature Adventure (based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western NC): authentic movement classes, community song circles, full moon hikes, meditation/resiliency workshops, women’s circles & more. Have me design a custom experience for your team/friends.  Learn more.  And, learn about Wild Souls Authentic Movement here.   Next Wild Souls Movement Class in Brevard, NC: May 25th.