Lessons from Camp
When I was in middle school, I went to a two-week overnight camp. My period arrived for the first time as I checked into camp, and it stayed with me for twelve of the fourteen days. Too shy to ask for help, I navigated that traumatic experience with the camp nurse and my mother, after she received my letters around day ten.
When I began researching the benefits of camp for my own children, I reframed my memories in my mind. I highlighted the talent show, horseback riding and camp fire stories. I spoke so highly of overnight camp that our boys ended up at the same camp, and enjoyed four summers each. I am learning that it really is all about mind games. If you can switch a negative thought or memory into a positive one, you can train yourself to be happier. It is OK to have negative thoughts, they just should be balanced with good ones so they do not overwhelm your brain.
Now you will read a lot about the benefits to the child who attends overnight camp, but I have not seen very much focus on what it does for the parents. When our boys went to two-weeks of overnight camp, it felt like marriage therapy. Some years we went on mini-vacations, other times we enjoyed stay-cations. But being without the kids did remind us why we started this journey in the first place. We did not fight over parenting issues. We did not discuss the kids very much, since we really didn’t have much to discuss. The camp they went to did not allow electronics, and since they are not great letter writers, a post card on day 10 does not give you a lot of material. We slept naked, shopped for dinner at the store each evening like we were French, and we watched inappropriate T.V. shows, while we ate dinner on the coffee table at 6pm. Pretty blissful.
Our boys aren’t going to camp this summer, but their Camp Coniston recently posted this which reminded me to focus on connections this summer. Who you are spending your time with, what are doing with your free time? Time is such an important thing to me these days, and I am constantly in search of ways to save it, cherish it, and have a really good time.
I write this blog each month to save you all time, and so I can share things I have learned to pass along to your circles. I do not get paid sponsorships, I merely like to tell people when I have tried something new, read something, listened, etc. And I LOVE when you tell me about something that has made your time better, so keep sharing them either via email, a text, social media….or even a call.-)
Sharing a few things that have made me happy this month. Got any friends who could benefit from these lil’ nuggets, pass this along!
Eleven11 Crossbody Bag. Netflix’s movie Wine Country, reminds us how important girl’s weekends are to our sanity. We all need a friend we can lean on, someone who would catch your guitar off stage. And while you can’t be with that friend, you can at least have a bag that has a guitar strap for a handle! Seriously, I opted for a cross body to take some pressure off my neck and she has so many fun straps to choose from. Thanks Zandra for the connection!
Brene Brown
Check out her Netflix special, and listen to both Oprah & Goop’s podcast interviews, and read Daring Greatly. Brene talks about tricking your brain to be more appreciative, grateful and joyful. Thanks Tara, Casey & Kate for passing along this very hot potato!
Summer to me means more time to read! I love how many books you have all been recommending, so keep them coming! Save the above list to your phone.-)
Energy without the sugar. These little cans are my perfect afternoon pick-me-up! Toss them in your beach bag this summer.
“Joy comes to us in ordinary moments. We risk missing out when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary.”
