Summer of Joy
By Felicia Davis, President & CEO of Chicago Foundation for Women
It’s officially summer in Chicago! Thinking back to last summer, one of the things I missed the most, was the ability to enjoy our beautiful lakefront. Now that the lakefront path and beaches have reopened, ice cream trucks have returned to our neighborhoods, playing their catchy tunes, and many of our family, friends, and neighbors are fully vaccinated, I want to share a gentle reminder to take some time for joy.
As a working mother, summer has always been the time where I have enjoyed the most flexibility. My children’s schedules weren’t as rigid as during the school year, I didn’t have to make sure homework was done, and I could be more relaxed with the dinner schedule. Summer is also a great time to take a break to enjoy the weather, spend more time outdoors, and carve out time to do the things that bring you joy. This wasn’t always the case for me.
Several years ago, I was at a point in my life where I realized much of what I did was not about or for me. Instead, the items on my ever-growing to-do list were about my responsibilities as a mother, spouse, and employee. My life revolved around all these things, but none of it was just for me. At some point along the journey of my life, I had lost the simple joys that were just mine, which brought me back to music.
Music has always had an important place in my life. As a young girl, I sang in the choir, and my sisters and I would pretend that we were singers in a girl band together. Music and singing had been a source of joy for me. When I realized I had lost that joy, I found a way to reconnect with that part of me, and I rediscovered that joy by singing in a band!
Not many people know that I sing in a band and have been singing since my youth. Singing in the band ‘Thirty Something’ brings me so much joy and is 100% just for me. It’s not for my children. It’s not for work. It’s for me. It took me a while to get back to that joy, but I’m so glad I did it. It’s a way for me to destress and come back to my responsibilities renewed and reenergized.
I encourage you to find your joy, to find rest, and recharge. The last year has been challenging and unprecedented, but we must be able to find the fuel to keep going. So take advantage of the relaxed nature of summer and take that vacation or staycation, book that girl’s weekend, or join a band! A study in 2019 found that U.S. workers left 768 million vacation days unused in 2018, a record at the time. If you have paid time off, make sure you use it. There’s an old saying that you can’t pour from an empty cup. Essentially it means that we have to take care of ourselves in order to take care of others.
As I once did, if you’re feeling pulled in every direction, think back to what brought you joy and work towards reconnecting with it, and in the words of Rep. Maxine Waters — say, “I am reclaiming my time.” I promise it will make a world of difference for you and those you care about. Reclaim your time!
A version of this article was originally published as part of Chicago Foundation for Women’s “GoWomen” Monthly Newsletter which you can read here.
