How is it June already? I feel like I blinked and here we are, almost halfway through the year, summer just beginning, and already I can feel it slipping.

And here exists that tension. Summer will pass. How do I savor it? Is there a way to arrive at August fully present and at peace rather than wondering how did I get here?

I don't think savoring happens by accident. Life has a way of passing by whether you're ready for it or not. I believe savoring and real contentment and enjoyment happen when you're intentional. Intentional with processing it, experiencing it, simply noticing it.

I have found journaling to be my favorite tool that allows me to be intentional. This week I'm sharing 5 prompts to help you savor the months ahead and actually feel them as they happen.

Before you dive in, I want to be really clear about something. This is not a gateway to a perfect, busy, curated highlight reel of a summer. This is simply an invitation to slow down for a second and ask yourself: what do you actually need? What does your soul need in order to get to August and not feel spent or worn out?

Journaling forces me to pause. To actually be with my thoughts and get them out. You might have an answer for each of these questions right now and have it all done in five minutes. It might take you a few days. Wherever you find yourself, that's okay. Be kind to yourself and trust that what you need will be revealed to you. And I promise, you'll be so proud of yourself for taking that moment to pause.

These prompts are meant to build on each other, so start at the top and let each one lead you to the next.

1. What are you already grateful for this season?

Before we start dreaming about what's ahead, let's start right here. What is already good? What have you already noticed, already felt, already enjoyed? Maybe it's something small. Maybe it's something you almost missed.

Starting with gratitude isn't about being positive for the sake of it. It's about getting present. It's hard to dream about what you want when you haven't acknowledged what you already have. So start there. Let yourself notice.

Mine: mornings outside, the sound of birds, studying scripture without a timer. Visiting boutiques and letting myself wander. Doing one thing that gives me life before the day takes over.

2. What do you want your summer to feel like?

Often, life has a way of creating circumstances that make us feel a certain way. And most of the time, it's not a peaceful way. It's rushed, confusing, or even overwhelming. We have an idea of what summer should look like and then life has a way of keeping us from the very thing we need.

So before the list, before the plans, start with the feeling. Maybe you want it to feel easy and unhurried. Maybe you want a full schedule but not the kind of full that drains you. Maybe you want something you don't even have a word for yet. Whatever it is, sit with it. Feel it. Start to dream.

Mine: easy and life-giving. Not curated.

3. What do you want to do?

Now that you know how you want to feel, let the activities follow. What kinds of things actually bring you life? What do you keep pushing off to next summer? Morning walks, a day at the beach, reading a book just because you want to, visiting a new coffee shop, taking more photos, a road trip. Write it all down without editing yourself.

If you're drawing a blank, try searching Pinterest or Google for ideas. Notice what makes you lean in. Notice what your heart is actually longing for. Honor that.

Mine: journaling, reading just for enjoyment, walks by the lake, soaking in the sun, visiting new coffee shops, a road trip, building a playlist as the summer unfolds.

4. Define your summer with one word.

Look back at everything you just wrote. The feeling, the gratitude, the things you want to do. What's the word underneath all of it?

This is your anchor. One word is a lot easier to carry than a list of intentions, and a word has a way of setting the tone before the day even begins. Write it on the front of your journal. Put it somewhere you'll see it. When life starts lifing and the summer starts slipping, come back to your word. It'll remind you of what you actually said you needed.

Mine: ease.

5. Find a verse or a truth to hold onto.

Now take that word and ground it in something bigger. A scripture, a quote, a truth that has been sitting with you lately. Something that, when you read it, feels like it was written just for you.

This isn't about having a perfect theological answer. It's about finding something to return to when the pace picks back up and you need to be reminded of what this season is actually for.

Mine: Psalm 23:2-3. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

Honestly, I found it difficult to begin working through these prompts. I kept waiting until I had it all figured out before I'd let myself answer. But maybe that's exactly the point. Once I stopped trying to curate the perfect summer before it even began, the answers came. And I think yours will too.

Now go grab your journal. Your August self will thank you.