One thing I love about summer is that I can start my day outside. This morning, I woke up, grabbed my notebook and a glass of water, and went up to the roof of our apartment building. The sun was just coming up and the sky and clouds over the mountains were magical.

It’s one of the many reasons I wake up early. I like carving out time for my morning routine. I love that I can see and appreciate things that do not exist after 8am.

When I start my day in awe of my surroundings, I’m reminded that the best things are never things.

Let go

I’ve let go of thousands of personal possessions, a beautiful home with a big yard and lots of storage space, a fancy car with heated leather seats, an impressive job title, a busy social calendar, a closet full of brand name clothes, and decades of ideas about what I thought would make me happy. I let go and created the time and space to be in awe of the things that really matter.

If you want peace, let go.

Say no

I say no to myself and others. Instead of trying to do all the things, or entertain every idea or choice I have, I choose carefully to protect the precious time and space I’ve created. Saying no didn’t feel comfortable at first, and I worried about disappointing people, but with practice, I’ve learned that it’s ok to say what you want, and what you don’t want.

If you want ease, say no.

Be Awestruck

I see the sky and clouds almost every single day and I never take the view for granted. I am awestruck on a daily basis walking through the city, hiking with my husband, hearing a powerful story, or simply by looking up. Being awestruck feels like a delicious mash-up of gratitude, joy, and delight.

If you want joy, be awestruck.

There is a path from overwhelmed and crazy-busy to peace, ease, and joy. It’s a long path, with lots of ups and downs, but there is so much beauty, and many opportunities to be awestruck along the way. I hope I see you there.