Don’t Let Summer Pass You By

 

A Slow Harvest Invitation to Savor the Season:

There’s something about summer that stirs a quiet ache in the heart—a soft reminder that the most beautiful moments are often the most fleeting. One minute, we’re pulling out the beach towels and sunhats, and the next, there’s a golden tint to the evening light, and a whisper of change in the breeze.

If we’re not intentional, summer can become a background blur—something we meant to enjoy, but didn’t quite get around to. This season, let it be different. Let it be deliberate. Let it be intensely lived.

A Picnic for Four: A Ritual of Togetherness

There’s something sacred in the simplicity of a picnic. It doesn’t have to be fancy. A few beautiful things, prepared with love—a crusty loaf of sourdough, ripe summer fruit, herbed cheese, and something refreshing to sip. The invitation isn’t about impressing; it’s about gathering.

Invite three people who make you feel at ease. Lay out a blanket under a shady tree or beside the water. Let time slow down. Let the conversation be easy. Let yourself be fully present.

Picnics remind us that we don’t always need a reason to gather. We don’t need a holiday or a milestone to celebrate. We only need a little space, some shared food, and the intention to connect.

And if no one’s free that day? Go anyway. A solo picnic with a good book and the breeze as your companion is its own kind of summer magic.

Simple Picnic Menu

Easy to prep, easy to love:

• Chilled cucumber & mint salad
• Hummus with sliced peppers and crackers
• Herbed goat cheese and sourdough
• Fresh cherries or sliced peaches
• Iced hibiscus tea or sparkling water with lime

Bring a cloth napkin, a real glass or two, and a book you’ve been meaning to read.

Play Like You Mean It: Reclaiming Joy

When did you last play just for the joy of it? Not for fitness, not for results—just for fun?

Summer nudges us back into our bodies, into the carefree version of ourselves that still lives beneath the schedules and responsibilities. She wants us to take a dip in the lake, ride our bikes down trails, go on a hike, or pitch a tent under the stars.

Let yourself remember the things that once brought you joy; allow your inner child to guide you for a while.

This kind of play isn’t indulgent. It’s necessary. It reawakens the senses, clears mental clutter, and fills the soul in a way no checklist ever could.

Mindful Sun Care: Skin Wisdom for Summer

Spending time outdoors is one of the gifts of summer, but protecting your skin is an act of long-term self-care.

Start by choosing a mineral-based sunscreen that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These ingredients sit on the surface of the skin and reflect UV rays, rather than absorbing them like many chemical sunscreens do. While chemical filters such as oxybenzone and octinoxate are still widely used, they’ve been linked to hormone disruption, allergic reactions, and environmental damage, particularly to coral reefs.

What to Look For:

• Non-nano zinc or titanium dioxide (mineral filters)
• Fragrance-free, reef-safe, cruelty-free
• Avoid parabens, phthalates, and petroleum-based ingredients.
• Be cautious of misleading terms like “gentle” or “baby-safe.”

Clean Sunscreen Brands to Explore

• Badger
• Earth Mama Organics
• Babo Botanicals
• Attitude Mineral Sunscreen
• Raw Elements
• Green Beaver (Canadian-made)

Always patch test a new sunscreen and reapply often, especially when sweating or swimming.

Also remember:

• Wear a wide-brimmed hat
• Use UV-protective sunglasses
• Choose breathable, light-colored clothing for additional coverage.

Local Joy: Finding Magic Close to Home

Summer doesn’t have to be marked by grand adventures. Sometimes the most meaningful memories are the simplest—the ones that happen just down the road.

Spend a Saturday morning at the farmers’ market. Let your senses lead—choose tomatoes that smell of sunshine, lavender bundles for your kitchen table, and fresh bread still warm from the oven. Say hello to the makers, the growers, the artists.

Look for:

• Open-air concerts
• Movies in the park
• Art fairs, community dinners, or neighborhood garden tours
• Yoga in the Park

These gatherings are a reminder that connection doesn’t have to be big or loud. It just has to be intentional. There’s joy in strolling through a crowd, in hearing live music drift through warm air, in the communal energy of people gathering just to celebrate being alive.

Final Thoughts: Make It Count

Let this be the summer you don’t wish you had lived more fully.

Let this be the season of yes—yes to simplicity, yes to slowing down, yes to pleasure without guilt.

You don’t need to fill every weekend. You don’t need a packed calendar or a big vacation. You only need to be present. Even if just for a few quiet, sacred moments.

So light the citronella candle. Eat the popsicle. Ride your bike at sunset. Float in the lake. Wear the sundress. Say yes to the invitation. Make the peach cobbler. Go pick berries. Stay up late watching stars.

Let this be the summer you remember.