10/31/2026
Happy Halloween! 🎃
It's one of my favorite holidays. I love the weather this time of year, the pumpkins and harvest, the hint of magic in the air, and, of course, the abundance of sugary treats.
So why am I sharing a collection of summer photos today? Well, the Aperol orange seemed fitting.
Earlier this spring, I jokingly dubbed summer 2026 my "Aperol Spritz Summer."
It started as a little spirit-lifting intention to get me through the decision to skip spring travel and wait until the end of August for our next adventure. The idea was further reinforced when I scored a free Aperol beanie from a local liquor store after one of the few ski days we had this year.
Rather than actually drinking spritzes all summer, it became a running joke, a talking point, and an excuse to take photos. By the time we made it to Spain, opportunities for Aperol-featured photos were practically everywhere. Naturally, I took full advantage (yes, those photos).
What I didn't really recognize until recently was how that little joke had quietly become a focal point throughout the summer. I'd given myself something to look for, and before long, I was finding it everywhere.
It's a pretty silly example, but it got me thinking about the relationship between intention and attention. Sometimes, simply deciding to pay attention to something changes what we begin to notice. Eventually, it becomes less about actively looking for it and more about recognizing it when it shows up.
It made me curious about a couple of things: what else might I notice if I were more intentional about where I direct my attention? and, perhaps just as importantly, what am I already giving my time and energy to without really realizing it?
It's interesting to think about how much of our everyday experience is shaped by what we choose to notice, what we give meaning to, and what we allow to occupy our thoughts.
Perhaps there's more to notice than we think. 🧡
