First off, I love summer because it gives me a chance to rest, recharge, and basically get caught up on everything that I couldn’t get done during the school year. Second, summer is all about relaxing…napping, sleeping in…going to bed because I want to and not because I have to get up at 5:30 AM. Third, summer is about family and enjoying the little things. I’m lucky in that I get to spend the summer far away from home at our second home in a quaint little town located on Lake Michigan.

This summer has been different than others in that it’s not necessarily all about relaxing…it’s also about research, and learning, and writing, and revising, and reading, and more research. I hope my family doesn’t feel sorry for me when I have to read studies, research articles, write, and then rewrite my drafts. Because I love it. I love learning…and I can’t complain about the view. If I’m not in the kitchen looking at the East Bay, I’m on the deck looking at the East Bay, on the porch at our “farmhouse” (I’m using that term VERY loosely) overlooking West Bay, or as I right now, looking into the woods behind the house. Sometimes if I’m lucky a beautiful bright red cardinal will keep me company.

I’m taking a break from researching, reading, and writing to enjoy this moment because I’m thankful for everything that I have. The road hasn’t been easy, but even when I’ve had to traverse the gravel or unpaved path, cross rickety bridges, or leap from rock to rock over a madly rushing stream, life has been good to me. And I love that I get to work with children for the better part of the year, and I love even more that I get to learn along side of peers in this doctoral program. There are only two more weeks before Residency…and there is still much to do, but I’m excited. I’m excited that I am surrounded by nature while pursuing one of my passions–learning. I’m excited that I have the drafts of two assignments already done with still one more week before they are due. I’m excited that my Year 1 paper is coming along nicely and I’m excited that I finished the draft for my poster session presentation at Residency. I’m excited about the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights tonight (yay!). But most all, I’m excited (and super thankful) that I have the summers off so that I can enjoy being a “full-time” doctoral student yet still have time for a good book and a nap (both of which I plan to enjoy after I publish this post).

I’m excited that I am surrounded by nature while pursuing one of my passions–learning. I’m excited that I have the drafts of two assignments already done with still one more week before they are due. I’m excited that my Year 1 paper is coming along nicely. I’m excited that I finished the draft for my poster session presentation at Residency. I’m excited about the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights tonight (yay!). But most all, I’m excited (and super thankful) that I have the summers off so that I can enjoy being a “full-time” doctoral student yet still have time for a good book and a nap (both of which I plan to enjoy after I publish this post).

Whether you have summers off or not, I hope you find time to enjoy the little things because it’s most certainly the little things that count.