Act IV: A Day at the Beach
Two nights ago around 6p, Jenna, a friend and one of our Botany team members, sent me a text.
“What are you doing tomorrow – during the day.”
I responded, “I always have things on my list but no meetings or hard appointments. Wassup?”
Her answer, “Can I convince you to take a couple hours of leisure time and visit the beach?”
I paused for a moment before responding, because my gut instinct lately has been to politely pass – an all too frequent pattern in this summer of grinding burnout when survival has been the norm.
But then, I also remembered a comment I made a few weeks ago how visiting the beach would actually be something I’d like to do when I’m not working so much. And I also knew I wouldn’t regret saying yes.
A few minutes later, I texted back, “You absolutely can.”
She picked me up promptly at 7:45am and we hit the road, pulling into the Indiana Dunes State Park about an hour later.
Jenna has mastered the art of a relaxing beach morning adventure. She sent me a detailed text the night before with everything I should pack and bring along: sunglasses, sunscreen (oops, forgot that one but thankfully she had one to share), headphones, a book, a journal, a jar for collecting cool rocks, a towel, and a change of shoes. She also has the route and departure/arrival times down by heart.
She also packed a bag of refreshing fizzy water, a 10/10 ham sandwich, freshly home-made blueberry loaf with streusel topping, and a delightful beach treat summer snack: grapes and orange slices dipped in melted Hershey bars (laid out in the sun).
It’s my new favorite thing.
In a nod to a favorite comfort comedy movie, Miss Congeniality, the day was,
“Not too hot and not too cold – all you need is a light jacket!”
The sky was beautiful, save for the dense and obvious cloud of air pollution between us and Chicago. The water was warm, the peak of summer warmth before fall cooldown begins. The Monarch migration has also begun, and we counted at least a dozen drifting by on the start of their long journey south. We watched cargo ships come and go from the port a few miles west, watched the swallows dive for insects, buried our feet in the cool sand and went nonverbal for extended periods of time.
While snacking.
It was everything my nervous system needed, and then some. I’ve been feeling… not well, lately, to put it mildly. “Dysregulated” is probably more accurate, and that’s layered on top of the burnout.
Jenna’s invitation arrived at exactly the right time: I’ve been overdue for a day like this. It felt like a reclamation of joy, self, and agency. And I was finally able to take a few deep breaths.
My brain actually got quiet for a change.
I can’t tell you the last time that’s happened.
As often happens in moments like this, on the other side is a clarity and calm, and that’s often when the best nuggets bubble up. Here’s what clarified for me.
I need to give social media a deep and wide break. Not just “a quick cleanse” – I’m talking a meaningful realignment, starting with an indefinite pause in sharing new content. I’ll be keeping our pages live and find-able, because they can still be a landing pad for new folks to find us, but I’ll no longer be putting effort into creating posts and videos, and this is all getting at a far larger goal: a de-tethering from my phone in general.
I’m going to buy a wristwatch again, too. Nothing that needs to be charged once a week or vibrates when I hit a step count or receive a text message. Just hours and seconds, baby.
I’ve also reclaimed my DSLR camera that’s been in a drawer for the last few years. I still enjoy capturing images and sharing them, and that won’t change – just how I capture and share them (one less thing I’ll rely on my phone to do).
I’m also flipping the switch on our SMS service – this is when I send you those little text message blips of information, 600 characters or less. I’m turning that off, too. One less notification. One less vibration.
Where is all of this coming from? Ultimately, it’s a feeling that’s been creeping into my mind for years – and I know I’m not alone.
“This little rectangle in my pocket has more power over me than it should/than I’m comfortable with.”
So, let’s start relying on it less. Bit by bit. This device rose to prominence as the “central hub to do it all” – and I think it’s safe to say the pendulum has officially swung too far.
Where I will be leaning instead? Right here. Writing. I have big dreams for our website, blog, and email, truth be told, least of which is the reality that they all thrive when I’m able to take intentional time to focus on sharing and crafting stories to share with you that aren’t suppressed or encumbered by an algorithm on social media.
Emails come right to your inbox – whether you choose to open them or not is entirely up to you.
Email in particular also lets you choose what you’d like to hear from us. New products, upcoming events, moments from the garden, all of the above? We’ve still not created those “segments” and that’s the first place I’ll be focusing in – look for that, soon.
Finally, if you’re reading this and not yet signed up for our email list, what are you waiting for? Email will be your only front-row seat to stay in the know on everything Botany & Co. moving forward.
On a related note, as the first SUPERBLOOM Society events approach on the calendar, I’m recognizing that this is another reason to make this move right now. I want these in-person gatherings to be about connecting, genuinely, in person, not “generating content” for social media.
I want you to come to these gatherings and keep your phone away, be present, laugh with the people around you, and literally take time to smell the flowers, make things with your hands, stare up at the clouds, and hopefully, allow your nervous system to take a breath, too.
Here are just a few SUPERBLOOM Society events that members can look forward to in September. I’d encourage you to sign up by Monday, August 31 so you have ample time to get your access codes and sign up for what sounds like fun to you.
SUPERBLOOM Society Happy Hour
Thursday, September 3 | 4-8p
15% off for you and a guest plus $2 beverages from the cooler.
Fall Tree & Shrub Preorder | Early Access & Save 10%
Tuesday, September 8 – Thursday, September 10
SUPERBLOOM members enjoy early access and 10% off a fall preorder. A reminder, a preorder will be your only way to snag native trees and shrubs from Botany & Co. and fall is a perfect season for planting. Sale opens to the public on Friday, September 11 with orders due by Friday, September 18. Pickups begin in October.
SUPERBLOOM Meet Up | Botanical Cyanotypes
Thursday, September 17 | 4-8p
This open-house style gathering is all about connecting and creating together. I’ll share some basic instructions and show a few examples, and then turn you lose to forage around the Botany & Co. campus for ingredients to create your own works of art.
If you’re not ready to join the Society and would like to attend, you can still sign up for this offering on its own.
As it always has, and always will, it takes a village. And you’re one of the best.
See you soon?
With Gratitude,
Ben | Owner & Founder