Summer Reimagined: Embracing the Imperfections

According to the calendar, it's officially summer! This means we can truly embrace the pool parties, the refreshing treats, and fun times. We all know that summer is full of joyful memories and exciting opportunities, but I know from experience it can be a difficult time. Balancing expectations, wants, and needs can stir conflicting feelings.

That's why this summer, on the blog, we are starting a new series called Summer Reimagined. In this series we are going to talk about all of the aspects of summer we have forgotten about, dismiss, or that we simply don't like talking about. It's going to be a summer of transparency and individual interpretation.

Embracing the Imperfections

We are starting the series by diving into an aspect of summer that is real and raw for many of us: the imperfections. There are many standards of what society has deemed as the "perfect" summer: going on vacation, having the summer body, having a work out routine, hosting summer brunches, etc. The media has influenced ideals surrounding summer and how we feel about ourselves when the season arrives.

There is this universal hidden truth of hiding what makes us "imperfect" especially in a season that is so exposing. We can't have physical blemishes. We can't appear too lonely. Staycations have become not enough. The expectations society has put on everyone have become so normal that we no longer notice they are even there. The "unworthy" pictures and unsaid feelings are left to hide behind the clouds, because it's easier that way.

Personally, I am tired of that. I started this blog because I realized that feelings, thoughts, and emotions I have are not solo, but just isolated. We all have similar experiences and responses to this thing we call life, but society has built walls to block the communication. We can't discuss sensitive or difficult topics. We can't appear broken or confused. We can't even take a moment to ourselves without feeling guilty.

To say all of this and to recognize the exhaustion that is built within it all, I know I don't want that. This summer, I want to reimagine myself and my experiences within life. I want to embrace everything, not just the things that would go on social media and I feel there are many people who want this to!

Finding Beauty in Imperfections

When I look at summer from an outside lens, it's easy to see that the imperfections within it are what we love most. Or at least, where we can gain the most. Look at sunburns, it's something we all have experienced. We get burned in the oddest patterns and places, because either you forgot to apply sunscreen or you simply missed a spot. There is this moment of "Oh no, I got sunburned!", but then our body embraces the imperfection. It wasn't meant to be there, but our body can heal it. The red is embraced and exchanged for the valued summer tan. The imperfect tan lines represent the unclouded memories and experiences we had, and the way that we are meant to embrace imperfections rather than dismiss them.

I wanted to think about some things that would never make my social media due to the "imperfections", but when I did I realized those were the moments that filled me the most. Not the paid photo shoot or the fancy meal; but the messy buns, chipped nail polish, broken pieces of seashells, the spilled smoothie, or the sand all in your car. The imperfections show the love, joy, and laughter that comes with embracing what is true to ourselves.

This Summer....

I encourage you to embrace every imperfection! The ones that make you laugh and cry, the ones that make you late, the ones that don't make the instagram post. Summer Reimagined is a chance to grow and let us be. I am going to try and I hope you do to!

Comment down below your favorite imperfection of summer or something that is hard for you to embrace. I would love to hear! I can't wait to continue this series! Talk to you next week!

-Kami