For the past few summers, our family has taken a getaway to a boat-access-only cottage with no electricity, barely-there cell service, and a whole lot of togetherness. It’s quickly become one of my favourite traditions.
We’ll be heading there soon, me, my husband, our adult “kids,” my sister-in-law, my niece and her husband, their new baby, and her mom.
This tradition started a few years ago when my niece invited us to spend a few days at the cottage, a place she and her husband love. It has been in his family for years, and he grew up spending his summers there. They just wanted to share it with us and spend more time together, something beyond the usual dinners or holidays. So we said yes, and a new tradition began.
There’s no road to the cottage. You bring what you need, load it up, and once you’re across the water, everything else fades into the background: phones, emails, schedules — all of it.
It’s simple.
Coffee on the dock.
Card games by solar lights.
Dogs cooling off in the water.
Conversations that drift because no one’s watching the clock.
We all know how much we need these moments, time to be with people without distractions, to enjoy each other’s company. But knowing and making it happen are two different things. Life pulls us in so many directions, and it’s easy to get caught up in everything except the people right in front of us.
This year will feel different.
My niece, who was the very first grandbaby in our family, just had a baby of her own. The first grandbaby now has the first great-grandbaby (or, in our case, grand-nephew). It’s a full-circle moment for all of us.
Being able to share this kind of time together without distractions or expectations feels like such a gift. I know not everyone has that. Families can be complicated, messy, or sometimes not there at all. Still, I think we all need a version of this: meaningful time with the people who matter to us, or even just a quiet moment to reconnect with ourselves.
Early morning swims, floating in the water, laughter echoing across the lake, and at least one of the dogs going on a wander. We’ll bring too much food, we always do, and settle into that familiar rhythm that only seems to happen when nobody’s in a rush.
No noise. No pressure. Just time to breathe, eat, talk, and remember what matters most.
And while this particular spot is special, it’s not the location that creates the magic; it’s the space we make for each other.
You Don’t Need a Lake
Not everyone has a cottage to escape to. Not everyone has a family to gather with. And not everyone can take a few days off just to step away. I get that.
But what this trip always reminds me of is that you don’t need much to feel a little more grounded.
Sometimes all it takes is a bit of room —
to turn things off,
to step away from the noise,
to be with the people who matter (or simply give yourself a moment to breathe).
That might look like a walk without your phone.
Or saying no to that one extra thing.
Or sitting on your porch in the quiet before the day begins.
It doesn’t have to be big or dramatic. Just something small that helps you reconnect with yourself.
The world will always have one more thing to ask of you. You’re allowed to pause anyway.
So if you’ve been feeling stretched, scattered, or like everything’s just a bit too loud, maybe this is your sign to step back in whatever way feels right for you.
Because even as life shifts and changes, some things, like quiet mornings and time well spent, are always worth holding onto.
What About You?
What helps you feel more like yourself or more connected to the people around you?
Leave a comment below, or take a few quiet minutes today to think about what your version of unplugging might be, even if it’s just for five minutes.
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