“You Don’t Have to Fill Every Space”

“Mom, look what I made,” our five-year-old exclaimed holding up a coloring page.

“Wow! I love all the colors you used, but look you didn’t color over here,” I responded.

Slowly, she turned the coloring book around and looked. “Mooommmm, you don’t have to fill every space.”

As she moved on to another page, her words stayed with me.

As we are entering the summer season, I feel the urge to fill every up space with camps, activities, and summer reading. The push to continue to stay busy in the summer season when the world around us is beckoning us to slow down is strong. The longer light invites us to linger and lounge and yet we keep hustling.

You don’t have to fill every space.

You can leave room for curiosity.

You can leave room for wonder.

You can leave room for creating.

You can leave room for lingering.

You can leave room for rest.

May your plans be interrupted and disrupted so more space is open for the unexpected to creep in.