Hello friends,
Summer is near.
I’ve just returned from Italy—heart cracked open, soul stirred.
My trip was a dream that began when I was six.
It wasn’t just about exploring the world—it was about honoring a long-held wish that belonged to the little girl in me.
The one with French braids, flipping through a travel magazine she didn’t quite understand—held upside down, no less—but captivated by the pictures all the same.
And then I stumbled on a story by Kelly Rae Roberts that whispered straight to the tender, truth-seeking part of me. It spoke of…
Taking stock of what we loved as young people, what made us feel electric and alive.
Letting those things matter again.
Letting ourselves experience them again.
Returning to the essence of who we are beneath the roles, the titles, the responsibilities.
The girl who went to the park and people-watched and daydreamed.
The one who had stretches of days without any agenda.
The one who wrote letters and sent them in the mail.
And in my case—the one who loved to talk on the phone, make mud pies in a makeshift outdoor kitchen, and play Barbies with friends for hours on end.
That story stayed with me.
And it shaped this month’s theme:
✨ The Art of Returning ✨
What if this season of life is an invitation to return—to ourselves?
To the parts of us we set down for a while.
To the small joys that once lit us up.
What if now is the time to take stock—of what made us feel most alive?
What if those old loves still matter—maybe even more than ever?
What if by returning to those days gone by, we find our way home to ourselves?
Each week this month, we’ll explore one layer of that return.
Week One: Returning to What Lit You Up
This week, we begin by looking back—not with nostalgia, but with curiosity and tenderness. We’re asking:
What used to light me up?
What small joys made me feel most alive as a child or young adult?
And what would it feel like to invite even a little of that back into my life now?
I think of the little girl who made mud pies and dreamt of far-off places.
She wasn’t trying to be productive.
She was just being—creative, curious, and fully alive in her world.
This week, we’re inviting her—and whatever version of your younger self calls to you—back into the room.
💫 Gentle Prompts for Reflection
Pick one (or a few) to sit with this week:
When I was little, I loved to…
What made me feel electric and alive when I was young?
What parts of that girl (or teen, or young woman) still live in me now?
What did I love before the roles, the responsibilities, the “shoulds”?
How could I bring just 10 minutes of that joy back into my life this week?
🎨 A Creative Invitation
Choose your own adventure:
Option 1: Make a “Return to Joy” collage or journal page.
Pull out old magazines, photos, or just doodle. Let it be playful.
What images, words, colors, or memories represent the joys of your younger self?
Option 2: Do one small thing your younger self loved.
Swing on a swing. Buy sparkly stickers. Write a letter. Make a mud pie.
Sing into your hairbrush. Call your best friend.
Thrift shop. Journal. Bake muffins just because.
This doesn’t have to be profound. It just has to feel like you.
🕯 Stillness Practice: A 5-Minute Homecoming
Each day (or whenever you can), take five minutes to pause.
Place your hand on your heart. Close your eyes. And ask gently:
What would delight the younger me today?
You don’t have to answer right away. Just ask. And notice.
💌 Optional Sharing Prompt
If you're part of our community space or want to join the conversation on Substack:
What joy from your younger self are you returning to this week?
Post a photo, a memory, or a small action you’re taking.
Let’s gently witness each other as we make our way back.
Hope you'll join us at The Kitchen Table on Friday, June 27th. This month at the Kitchen Table, we gather with suitcases full of stories, hearts cracked open by beauty, and maybe even a little sand still in our shoes.
Inspired by the theme “The Art of Returning,” we’ll explore what it means to come home—not just physically, but emotionally and soulfully—after stepping away from our everyday lives. Whether you’ve recently travelled far or simply taken a pause from routine, time away has a way of shifting something inside us. We’ll reflect on how holidays—of any kind—leave us changed, awakened, softened, and somehow a little more ourselves again.
As always, we’ll share gentle conversation, meaningful reflection, and a creative project to anchor our experience.
This month’s creative invitation:
You’ll be guided in creating a simple handmade card inspired by a travel memory—real or imagined. Your card will serve as a soulful keepsake of a time you felt truly alive and present.
Bring your tea, your stories, and watch for a list of supplies you'll require for the creative project. Let’s gather and gently honor the magic of stepping away—and the beauty of what we find when we return.
Hope you can join us!
