A Simple Slow Summer
notes on entering a season of ease and pleasure
I’m a summer baby, so naturally, I will always vouch for summer as the best time of the year. But this year, for the first time…I think I’ve come to realize I enjoy spring far more and that it may just be my favorite. It feels like a crime to admit this out loud.
That gentle, soft, warm caress after gloomy winter days, and the bloom of it all. *chefs kiss*
Then there is summer:
Hot. Insufferable heat. Glaring light. You literally can’t even keep your eyes open without the help of sunglasses or a hat. Don’t get me started on the sweatttt.
Okay enough complaining. I really do still love summer. In the past, summer months meant plans every weekend, brunches with friends, backyard barbecues, staying up late watching movies, and family vacations—at least that’s what I looked forward to most.
There is always this external pressure to make the most of summer.
Growing up, I would often listen as my friends and peers enthusiastically shared their bucket lists and planned summer escapades across Europe, some who had booked months in advance. Meanwhile, there was the other group of individuals who had diligently worked throughout the year to secure coveted internships and summer positions at respected universities and organizations in big cities.
Leading up to this time of the year, there is a constant comparison—it seems that every conversation revolves around grand travel plans, career moves, and booked calendars. In the past, I likely would have felt a subtle unease amidst the excitement and ambition I was surrounded by as the narratives described above overshadowed the quieter joys and simple pleasures that I cherished just as deeply.
Now, I wonder, what is it that people mean by “making the most of summer”? Perhaps the most of longer days, better weather, sunshine? What is most? I want to know. Why limit happiness and making the “most” to a single season? Why not revel in joy in every other season?
All this to say that this summer I am proud to announce that I will not be one to succumb to the allure of having a booked and busy calendar. I also understand that this won’t be the case forever, so I am feeling extra grateful this year to have the luxury and privilege of spending my summer moving at ease and to be able to enjoy the mundane.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with having plans every week and booked calendars but I hope for anyone reading who feels left out by this idea also finds comfort in knowing that there is no mandate to seize every bright and sunny day as if it is the only measure of enjoyment.
You are allowed to continue living life to your rhythm.
You are allowed to do the same things you love and find yourself doing during other seasons.
Ease into what pleasure looks like for you during this season of life.
Enjoy summer through small pleasures:
Go outside. I mean this is obvious. Take a walk. Notice the colors and sounds in your space (highly recommend checking UV index prior to engaging in this activity).
Talk to a stranger. Compliment them. Say hello to that one neighbor you’ve made eye contact with for months.
Surprise a family member or friend. Write them a handwritten note. Prepare their favorite meal. Buy them flowers. Give them a 20 second hug. Platonic relationships are just as important as romantic.
Write a poem about someone or something that inspires you. Draw a picture to go with it. Hide it at the bottom of your drawer or share it with the world to admire.
Create a meal from scratch. Channel your inner Nara Smith. Instead of following a recipe, gather a variety of ingredients and create a new dish. Get creative with presentation. Check out a seasonal summer produce guide.
Spend an evening observing the stars. Try counting them. Imagine shapes or objects.
Keep a journal nearby—not for the purpose of writing something every day but so that you have the option to. Collect magazine clippings and ticket stubs to arrange around your writing.
Order a pizza and do nothing all day. Some of your best ideas will come when you slow down.
Wishing you all the simple pleasures this summer and opportunities for play,
Let’s keep the conversation flowing
What curiosities are you interested in exploring this summer?
What lights you up and gets you out of your head?
This piece perfectly puts to words how I feel about the summer months! I dread the heat just as much as the lofty social expectations I set for myself. I feel guilty for sitting inside reading on my couch instead of going for a hike or planning a picnic or getting drinks with a friend. This year I’ve been giving myself more grace to do what I want and soak up my lovely air conditioning.