I’ll be honest with you, I’m an autumn girl. I love the crispy leaves under my feet, the smell of bonfires in the chilled evening air, snuggling up with plush blankets, a cable knit sweater draped over me, and wearing the fuzziest of socks. I love baking and cooking, warming the home with smells of pumpkin pie and apple cobbler. I married a summer guy who loves to fearlessly jump into the ocean water, stays up late to watch the sunsets, and prefers hotdogs on the grill over a carefully loved roast cooking for hours in the oven. We can’t fight the seasons, though, they come, and they go, and the older we get the faster they come and go.
Over the years, I’ve discovered I could complain about what I don’t like about everything and anything, including the summer heat, or I could spend my moments of time discovering goodness in everything as it makes for a happier life. Today is the first day of summer and in my parts of Michigan, there is already a heat advisory. I could complain, but can I control it? Nope. I can just control my reaction to it by turning on the air conditioner. So, I thought I would share with you some of the things you can do to celebrate Summer Solstice, a time of new life, light, renewal, fertility, and abundance.
- Meditate in the Garden – Grab a lawn chair or yoga mat and daydream. Let your mind wander in lieu of the normal over-thinking that most of us do.
- Catch some Rays – Stand in the sunshine (with sun protection, of course) and grab some Vitamin D.
- Read a Book – Pick up a fun book, sit on your porch stoop or find a seat poolside, and give yourself permission to escape out of your world and into another.
- Make a Wish Upon a Star – On the longest day of the year, take a moment to bask in the darkness by stargazing. It’s a reminder that the sun does always come up.
- Make Lemonade – Or sun tea. Or a cool refreshing drink that lets you sit and ponder.
- Diffuse Citrus Essential Oil – The smell of citrus is found to be uplift the mood and elicit a positive state of mind.
- Pick Strawberries – Yum. I for one could live off just eating strawberries year-round, and it is their season to shine now. Strawberries are part of the rose family, and my cardiologist told me they are good for the heart to boot.
- Picnic in the Park – Whether you take a hike with a basket and find the perfect secluded space to enjoy some yummy food or get carryout and sit in the middle of a bustling green space, you can benefit from the fresh air. Watch the wildlife as they take on the season.
- Set Intentions – Every solstice has some magical elements with it, and summer solstice is no exception. Set your intention for the remainder of the season, if not the rest of 2023.
- Begin – This energy aids you in being wild and free, fearless, and excited with new beginning.
Even if you don’t love change, there’s something magical about getting more daylight to shine rays of clarity for a better you and your life. You could take a class (hey, I have a great one for you right here) or clean out the garage. It can be as fun or hard as you want it to be.
So, whether you love summer, or would prefer hot cider and pumpkin picking like me, lean on the memories of each season.
I believe in you! Happy Summer Solstice.
Kristy Robinett
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