CHERYL MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2023

Two Perspectives: A Married Woman's View

Summer of Choice: Choosing Enjoyment

by Nina Wooten

Summer is a time for travel, family, love, friends, and celebrations. It’s the season everyone looks forward to as the weather opens the door to adventure and fun. However, none of this could take place without the catalyst of choice. Our choices will determine if this summer will be the best one yet or one to tuck away and forget. Choose to be intentional about what summer could be so it can be experienced in all its glory.

Choose Happiness

Happiness doesn’t happen by chance; you prepare for it, so waiting for it is no longer an option. The difficult part of choosing and experiencing happiness is many of us don’t have the first clue as to what makes us happy in the first place. Here is where the fun of discovery comes in. Try everything! Looking for a new wardrobe and don’t know your style? Try on everything in multiple stores. Don’t know what kind of movies you like? Try a different genre every week. Maybe loneliness is a factor. Become a volunteer, join a local support group, or visit a church. Put in the work. Seek activities or events with opportunities to meet new people with like interests. Never stop trying, and continue advocating for your peace and happiness.

Choose You

We live in an era where body positivity, glow-up, and hot girl summer are mentioned in the same breath. If there was ever a time to embrace yourself, it is now. We should be accepting every beautiful and flawed part of ourselves. Leave the jacket used to hide your not-so-slender arms at home. Trade those jeans for shorts or a mini skirt that shows off those imperfect thighs. Wear that bodycon dress with or without the body shaper. We can’t keep hiding what we should love about ourselves. Besides, if we can’t love ourselves, how can anyone else? In all your choosing, choose you. Summer may not always pass the vibe check when it comes to this, but it is up to us to make sure we do.

Choose Enjoyment

Be your own hype (wo)man. Create a summer playlist or find the summer anthem that unleashes your inner goddess or reminds you to be who you truly are. Let it bring out your smile and move your body while making declarations to the air. It’s one of the simplest ways to create and enjoy the moment. All you need is you and a song.

Have fun on purpose. Summer fun brings many concerts, shows, new movie releases, and festivals. Find something to do every week and put it on the calendar. Be deliberate about thoroughly enjoying summer, or it will pass in the blink of an eye. Whatever you choose to do, make memories, enjoy life, and be good to yourself. Squeeze every drop of awesome out of summer, and let’s summer the summer out of summer.

A Summer to Remember: Authentic Enjoyment

by Nikki Wright

It’s TIME to shake things up! If you’ve never had a summer to remember, then your time is now. Summer has the power to enrich our lives, but if we don’t pay attention, the seasonal excitement can pass us by. So, whether we’re finding new ways to rest or trying to live our best life, the time is now.

Plan for Time Off

When was the last time you took a mental health day or utilized your earned time off? If your paid time off is at the maximum allowable, it’s probably a sign you’re working too hard and not making enough time for yourself. We all know you have big goals, but the more we take on, the more rest and rejuvenation is needed. You have given more than enough. You don’t need to be a sacrificial lamb while everyone else enjoys a work-life balance. So go ahead and make your plans and confidently request some muchdeserved time off.

Plan Time Outside

Do you remember what it feels like to sit under a tree, read a book, walk on the beach, or experience a local park? Perhaps a little more time outside in the sunshine will jog your memory. Everything we do shouldn’t be a huge ordeal or a spectacular event. Summer fun and relaxation can also be found in simplicity, not to mention the benefits of some fresh air and sunlight. The outside world is free, accessible, and at our fingertips.

Spend Time With the People You Love

Being a busy bee all year, working overtime, or progressing your side hustles have benefits, but the downside is missing time with those we love. Summer is an excellent time to make time for new memories with our children, significant others, and friends. Have the kids write out what would make their summer a memorable one.

Throw in spontaneous date nights at restaurants you’ve never been to and order items you’ve never tried. Set up a calendar to spend some dedicated time with each of your closest friends without the group. It’s time to catch up on what’s truly happening in each other’s lives and strengthen these bonds.

Authentic Enjoyment

Are you in touch with what you enjoy? Some of us have gone our whole lives not knowing what we like. Summer is the perfect time to revisit old activities or discover new ones. Maybe you used to enjoy bowling, but now you prefer skating. Maybe you used to fear roller coasters, but now you find them interesting and possibly even some zip lining. Or you may discover the most adventurous you’ll ever be is exploring menu options as a foodie. We will only know if we try, so let’s make an effort to find what we like.

Figure Out What’s Best for You

Whether your summer to remember will be calm, relaxing, and low-key or add a bit more spice, you have the power to make it what you want it to be. Get creative and put your plans in motion. Every minute counts; let’s not let another great summer go to waste.

Nina Wooten and Nikki Wright are bloggers, servant-leaders, career professionals, mentors, and they both serve their communities. Nina is passionate about seeing women and children thrive, and encourages well-rounded living and a life fully enjoyed. Nikki, a philanthropist, avid traveler, and lover of the arts, is passionate about helping teens, women, and singles. Cocreators and co-writers of Wooten & Wright, a lifestyle blog, visit wootenandwright.com, wootenandwright@gmail.com, or on IG:@wooten_and_wright.