The Joyful Simplicities of Summer

Summer: hot, steamy, and sultry; a time to slow down or even stop; a season to shed hurry and commotion along with cell phones, calendars, and extra layers of clothing. Suddenly, our wants seem to diminish because our needs are met: a shady corner, a cold drink, a cool breeze—a respite from the rigors of the day. To borrow from writer Sarah Ban Breathnach: “Summer is not so much a season as a melody—that tune of contentment we hum as the days begin to beautifully blur. The pursuit of happiness becomes a personal priority as the sweet strains of Harmony start to be heard in our hearts.”

When I was a young girl looking forward to summer break, my seasonal to-do list was short and sweet: read a Nancy Drew mystery (or two), sunbathe with a friend while listening to the radio, and sleep in. The simple pleasures and the break from rigid schedules were all that filled my thoughts as the school year wound down.

“July was the month when summer, like bread in the oven, might change color, but it would rise no higher. It was at its height.” —Jessamyn West, American Quaker author

“How softly summer shuts, without the creaking of the door.” —Emily Dickinson

Here are just a few joyful simplicities to savor this season:

• Find a local parade, then host a barbecue with friends and family.
  

• Heading to the beach? Try experiencing it at different times of the day: an early morning walk before the crowds arrive, a midday soak in the sun’s healing rays, and an evening stroll by moonlight.
  

• Rediscover the books you loved as a child. Visit the children’s section of your local library, where you’ll find old favorites like Little House on the Prairie, The Great Brain, or anything by Judy Blume. You can also do as I always do—revisit Nancy Drew and help her solve The Mystery in the Old Attic.
  

• Invest in a comfortable hammock, and use it!
  

• Visit the local pool. Is there a happier smell than suntan lotion?
  

• Rent or borrow a kayak and paddle across a nearby lake. Let the rhythmic motion of the water restore peace and clarity to your heart and mind.
  

• Take an early morning or late evening walk. There’s nothing quite like moving through fresh air to breathe new life into both body and spirit.
  

• Attend a concert or a play in the park. Try a genre that’s outside your usual tastes. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you’ll add to your playlist.

Recently, my husband and I attended a Shakespeare in the Park performance of Romeo and Juliet. While the play itself wasn’t exactly a comedy, my husband’s exaggerated “Shakespeare speak” afterward had me laughing all evening. It really is the simple things that bring the most joy, and don’t we need more of that?

This summer, I hope you find a chance to revisit your childhood, slow down, and simply breathe. Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. Regain your spiritual footing by allowing yourself to just be.

As an entry from your high school yearbook might say, “Stay cool, and have a hot summer.”