The summer I didn’t write.
A little update on what happened lately in my corner of the world.
Hello lovely readers,
Given that I haven’t written to you since June, I could start with an apology. But for once, I won’t. I needed that break, and choosing to honor my own needs instead of putting others’ first feels like a personal win worth celebrating. So, yay me!
That doesn’t mean I didn’t think about you at all. Some of you may have seen the short video I shared on Notes during a hike in the Corsican mountains in July, and for those of you who follow me on Instagram, I also posted some photos and videos over the summer.
But now it feels like time for an update.
When my inspiration left the building…
On the writing front, the title of this article says it all: I couldn’t write a single word outside my journal since late June.
Despite having no shortage of possible topics, my inspiration and flow were nowhere to be found. Each time I tried, my mind went blank and my body resisted. Eventually, I understood it simply wasn’t time yet to share words.
And to be honest, I didn’t have much time to try anyway. I was the main caregiver for my 6-year-old daughter these past two months — often the sole one, since summer is peak season for my partner’s business. Every summer I remind myself how lucky I am to spend that time with her. And yet, every summer, I end up drained. Two months of near-constant togetherness is simply too much for my nervous system (especially since I’m a Projector and she’s a Generator, our energies are very different!).
Yesterday I read a very relatable article by
about how summer holidays impact us as mothers and creatives. It reminded me I’m not alone in having mixed feelings about these seemingly endless weeks of school holidays.
How I refilled my creative well
I won’t lie, it was frustrating not to write, because creativity is such a big part of my life. But this year I’ve been learning to listen to my body, and I knew the resistance was sending me a message.
So, instead of forcing the words, I turned to other ways of nourishing myself.
First, I moved my body more and spent time outdoors whenever I could. I hiked in the Corsican forrests with loved ones, and walked daily while visiting my mother in the French countryside.
Back home, I slipped a little (partly because my daughter caught chickenpox two weeks before school started again), but I was reminded how much movement and nature help me feel good in both body and mind.
And as I shared in my latest voice note/podcast episode, I know that connecting with my body often unlocks my creativity.
To unlock my creative flow, I also leaned into another outlet: watercolor painting.
I’ve wanted to try it for years, but always found excuses. This summer, while staying with my mom, I ran out of them as I had both time and supplies at hand. So I finally tried. And I loved it.
Since coming back to Bastia I haven’t yet established a routine, but I’d like to. One idea is to create watercolor versions of some of my favorite photos of Corsica. For now, though, I’m practicing and so far, as you can see, I’m better at flowers than landscapes!
Still moving the needle on other fronts
While my words were quiet, other parts of my life kept moving.
I made slow but meaningful progress on the business pivot I mentioned in an earlier essay. At the start of summer, I began working on branding with the wonderful
.Though branding is something I know how to do from my past career in marketing, I realized I wanted support for my own. And I was curious to do it alongside a group of like-minded women. The experience was everything I hoped for and more. It reminded me that asking for support — instead of trying to do everything alone, as I usually do — and surrounding myself with the right people are key, especially in this season of transition.
I’m not ready to share much more yet, but to give you a taste — and to push through some of my own resistance around visibility — I’ll tell you this: for the first time in ten years, I plan to use my own name for my business.
I’ll probably share more newsletter-specific updates in the coming weeks. For now, I just want to thank you for being here, even when I’m not the most consistent writer. Your presence and your words mean the world.
But enough about me! What about you?
How was your summer? What moments stood out, joyful or challenging?
I can’t wait to reconnect and hear your updates.
Welcome back, Mailys! It sounds like our summers were similar - mine was rich in inspiration and quiet in terms of “output”. But you’re right about listening to our bodies and respecting the ebb and flow. Interestingly, I’m also wanting to give watercolor a try but have dipped my toe in it as of yet. Looking forward to reading you and hearing your updates soon!
I resonate deeply with what you have shared here Maïlys, I have been thinking a lot about the last two months and the frustration at having to put everything on hold being main/mostly sole caregiver over the summer hols, whilst at the same time feeling grateful for the time spent with my children. I thought I would be able to carry on with my creative work in the evenings and in the edges as usual but I really could not muster the energy after giving so much of myself each day. Thank you for sharing your experiences and what has helped you reconnect with yourself and your creativity xx