Summer 2024 Reflections: Discovering Joy in the Little Moments
Summer 2024 Reflections
And all at once, summer collapsed into fall. This year, it came and went way too fast. It may just be coincidence but at times it feels as if the older I get, the shorter it feels.
Please join me in reflecting on our brief summer, what we did, and if you make it to the end, how things have been for me and what I’ve been up to.
Our summer kicked off with a week vacation in the Sunshine State of Florida. We have done Disney and Universal many times over the years, so we just wanted to enjoy the resort and go with the flow.
For us, that is a big change because we are normally the type of travelers who enjoy the Disney Magic Hours and Early or Extended Admission to the parks. We take a break midday, and then we are at the parks until they close.
This time, with the Floridian heat of June, we were happy to opt out of the hustle and bustle of it all.
So, we started with doing some shopping to cook some delicious meals at our resort and have snacks at the ready.
Of course, we hit up Trader Joe’s and an Asian supermarket for the necessities.
We are big foodies and enjoy trying new places so, we got enough to eat two meals at home, and then enjoy one out.
But, sometimes it ended up being two, let’s be real!
Going with the Flow
To sum it all up, we swam A LOT, we swam in the rain, and we floated down a lazy river.
We even swam at night.
We hit up Clearwater Beach, swam in the sweltering heat, and then got cooled down by the rain.
The weather was hot, and the best pool days were overcast days.
It gave us a break from the sun! We had some rain but, if you know Florida rain, it never lasts long.
Laid Back Trip
Not only that, but we even drove up to Northern Florida to visit Ponce de Leon’s natural springs to swim there.
That journey alone was an experience in itself.
It was truly beautiful. I’d never seen such an oak-tree laden place. Much less trees with ethereal moss covering every branch.
The landscape was reminiscent of New Orleans, at least that what came to mind.
The drive up was gorgeous, and we discovered through their road signs that Northern Florida has black bears.
Did you know that? I sure didn’t!
Our food journey was delicious, of course. We enjoyed KBBQ (our fave), Pollo Campero (IFKYK), and the biggest McDonald’s in the world—to name a few!
Summer Carried On
As soon as we came back, Mimi started summer school to get her first high school credit before starting high school.
I know summer activities like this might not be every teen’s favorite, but she’ll be glad when it helps her graduate early or gives her an extra spare period!
The good thing is, she didn’t mind it too much, so that was a plus!
What other crazy thing did we almost do? Adopt a kitten. My sis-in-law fosters cats and she had this little guy, and we fell in love with him.
Sadly, we didn’t end up getting him.
It just wasn’t feasible in our home with Kimchi and the lack of designated space for him.
Plus, we aren’t cat people, so it’d be a learning experience. Maybe in the future I can get a black cat with beautiful green eyes and learn the ways of the cat!
The Woodward Dream Cruise 2024
We were so happy to hit up the cruise this year. With life and COVID the last few years, we hadn’t attended to the same capacity.
We saw so many classic cars and of course we peeped the imports. It’s always fun to see the mods that people make to their cars. That’s my second fave thing to see besides the cars themselves!
We spent the whole day there and had some rain but, next year we will hit it up earlier!
Farewell Summer
August arrived, and we finally felt a bit of a slow-down. We spent the days swimming, BBQ’ing at home, enjoying new and favorite restaurants, and each other’s company.
Went blueberry picking and ate so many blueberries!
Some of my favorite things we did this summer were watching lots of K-dramas and tons of movies.
I have a full list of recommendations if anyone wants it. I always tell people that it’s worth reading the subs, because the stories are so good!
Back to School
And back to routines, early mornings, making lunches, and homework!
Not to mention, everyone has their own schedules. I do love having the girls home with me a lot, so I miss them lots while they are gone.
I am glad that they are out there learning and taking in new experiences.
My only wish for both of them, as it is every year, is for them to have fun, make memories, and do their best.
Both of our girls are starting new adventures, so naturally, I worry. But, I know they will find their way!
What Have I Been Up To?
You made it this far! To be honest, not much has changed since my last update. At least not by extraordinary bounds but, any progress is progress.
Not many of you know but, my father fell ill two years before the pandemic, and we cared for him up until his passing in 2022.
When he did leave this earthly plane, it was quite literally one of the hardest things that I’ve ever experienced and continue to feel until this day.
It’s been two years, and it doesn’t get easier. Sometimes people believe there is a timeline for these things, but, there really isn’t.
Sometimes, I wonder if it’s just me because I still do struggle a lot with this loss.
With that said, it’s just something that you adapt to live with.
With the whole pandemic and immense loss, I adjusted my workload to half of what I was producing at the time.
Truth be told, sleep evaded me, my dreams betrayed me, and my own thoughts became heavy.
So, I found ways to keep busy and find ways to handle the tumultuous wave of grief that ebbs and flows.
You May Also Like:
- 29 Life Lessons That I Have Learned So Far
- An Open Letter to My Parents
- How Do I Deal with Losing My Father?
- How Do I Live with Grief?
How? I started playing video games again.
It started with a game that I used to play when I was a teenager, Ragnarok, I was obsessed with it and now it’s back and even better.
Playing now, it is easy to quest and get lost in that world for a bit.
Just recently, I started playing Genshin Impact, and I am awed at the quality of the game play.
Next on the list is Black Myth: Wukong, it looks unreal!
Even though I only play when I’m not working or on the weekends, it reminds me of my hardcore, LAN party, gaming days before I had kids.
When we’d play Counterstrike, Diablo II, Warcraft (before WoW), Tekken, and, Starcraft (just to name a few) for hours on end.
Ah, memories.
I’ve also made it a priority to put down the phone more often and just live in the moment. I’ve even taken some time to create some designs for my small shop, like that mug above that says, ‘Tengo Chisme‘, I have tea!
You know, gossip!
That’s why it’s been quiet around these parts, but, I am finding joy in the little moments, and I’m ready to do things that I am passionate about again.
So, I am going to keep creating more content on here, and continue to share our adventures.
I will be sharing a post like these at least once a week, so stay tuned!
For all those who have stuck around all these years, I appreciate you and hope you’ve been well. For newcomers, you are always welcome.
What were your favorite Summer 2024 reflections?
Let me know, til then—cheers m’deres!
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Nancy Polanco is a freelance journalist, lifestyle content creator, and editor of Whispered Inspirations. She is a proud Mom to Gabby and Michaela and partner and best friend to Darasak. Having worked as part of a health care team for almost a decade, Nancy is happy to be back to her passion. She is a contributor to the Huffington Post, TODAY’s Parents, and an Oprah Magazine Brand Ambassador.
Wow, what beautiful photos. Seems like you had a nice summer. I wish I could have done more over the summer before my kids went back to school.
Thank you so much. We have summers like that too. We make lots of memories at home.
Glad you had a nice summer! What a coincidence, my family & I were in Orlando in mid-June. The humid weather was rough for us because I’m used to a dry heat. But the fun of Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando made the trip memorable.
We skipped the parks because of the same reason. I am glad that you guys had a great trip!
Your foodie adventures sound amazing—Trader Joe’s and an Asian supermarket? Yes, please!
Yes, and many restaurants along the way!
Loved the post and I am so with you…. I feel like the older I get the years pass by faster for sure…. but summer…. last year and this year were incredibly short feeling. If you blinked you would miss it….alomost LOL. Looks also like you guys had a great trip to Florida… my sister lives there and we are overdue to getting there ourselves. 🙂
Yes, I miss those long dog days of summer where everything was right with no worries.
Florida rain is predictably unpredictable, short until it’s not! Glad to see you got a lot of swimming in over the summer, that’s got to be one of my favorite activities. I don’t play games, not really, maybe something on my phone or tablet… but I do know my DiL did lean into a game called Rocket League to help herself cope with grief. Maybe that one might help too!
Thank you, I will look into that game. I appreciate the recco!
This last year has been a rough one for me. I lost my grandparents and my favorite aunt. I just try to enjoy each day as it passes.
I am so sorry for your loss. That is a lot of love that is looking for a place to go. It is very hard and I do the same, I enjoy each day as it passes. Sending hugs to you.
I am glad that you’ve enjoyed your summer together with your family.
We have the same reflection this summer, I learned to enjoy every moment with my family whether it is small or big moments. I learned to stay positive and look into every situation’s brighter side.
Yes, that is a great way of doing things. There is always a silver lining.