Having a "Why Not?" Summer

It's been a few weeks since I posted ~ how are you doing? How was July? We're a little more than half way between the beginning of summer and the beginning of fall. That was quick! 😬

My summer started with a fun and spontaneous train ride to L.A. to see a friend who was visiting from the East Coast kind of last minute. When I heard that she was coming, I wanted to see her, but I had a lot going on and wasn't sure I could swing it. I was hesitating to commit. But then I asked myself ~ what if I didn't try to make it a whole thing? What if I just went up to visit for the day? And I heard a familiar voice inside asking, "Why not?"

So I went! And instead of driving, I took the train ~ which made it the opposite of stressful. We had so much fun in Little Tokyo ~ visiting the nearby Geffen Contemporary museum, eating bear-shaped custard buns, and going to a fun Japanese place that looked like a boarded up building on the outside, but like this on the inside:

Sometimes the simplest questions are the most powerful.

And "Why not?" has really helped me have fun this summer.

Not in a reckless, do-whatever-you-want kind of way.

But in a quiet, curious, self-loving kind of way.

Why not do the thing that feels good ~

even if it’s small, or silly, or not “productive”.

Why not buy yourself flowers?

Say no when you mean no?

Say yes when something makes you smile?

Slow down long enough to watch the sunset?

And that familiar voice asking "Why not?" is my grandpa's. He’s been gone for over 20 years now, but I really do hear him at those times when I'm tempted to deprive myself: standing in front of a box of ripe peaches, or bundles of lilacs or peonies, or when I just feel like taking the long way home instead of the freeway.

“Why not?” he’d say, with a wink (he was half Scottish and half Irish ~ and I think this combination gave him top-tier winking skills).

Reminding me that joy doesn't need to be earned, and sweetness is reason enough.

Of course, for many of us, it isn’t that simple.

We have a habit of overthinking, hesitating, holding back.

We tell ourselves stories about what’s allowed, what’s deserved, what’s too much.

But sometimes, one small question can break the spell.

So if you feel drawn to something this week ~ even if it feels frivolous, see what happens if you ask:

Why not?

❤️