hello it's me

Question: why are you not commenting on the amazing things I'm putting on the internet?
Question: why have you not posted all month?
Question: what the heck Elissa!?!?

ANSWER: Because I'm lazy and I've been in vacation.

*now that we have that cleared up*

Hello it's me, your friend Elissa!!
How's it going people?
What's the weather like where you are? [I'm actually genuinely curious because...]
I JUST SPENT 15 DAYS ON THE EAST COST AND MY LAND THIS PNW CHILD WAS HOT.

*cue vacation photo dump*

But actually I'm going to wait to post pictures because I want to say something meaningful.
IT'S COMING.

So yeah.
I've missed you guys.
What's been happening? 

just be

well by golly it's july.
woaahhhhhhhh.

this summer, i'm challenging myself.
i'm challenging myself to not set all these giant goals.
i'm trying to not set big expectations.
i'm working on taking each day at a time, while still being mindful of how today will affect the future.

because in our mad stampede to have perfect Instagram-y, perfect beach-y hair, crossed off everything on the checklist, perfect food filled days, it's hard to just be.
at at some point, we all have to realize it's good (even healthy!) to stop doing and start being.

it's hard to enjoy life when you're so focused on enduring it perfectly.
it's hard to enjoy life when your checklist never shortens, day after day after day.
it's hard to enjoy life when you can't find time for the most important things.

today, take a moment to "be."
feel your lungs inflate and deflate with air.
hear the birds chirp.
let the sky shine on you.
and remember what a precious privilege it is to just be.

p.s. i got to hold puppies this week so yeah. be jealous.