There is something about summer that feels different.
As a kid, it made perfect sense. School was out. The alarm clock was gone. Homework disappeared. Summer meant freedom.
Later, as a parent, summer brought a different kind of relief. Fewer lunches to pack. Fewer carpools to coordinate. Fewer bedtime negotiations. The whole household seemed to exhale.
But here’s what I find interesting: my children have grown up for years, and yet every June, I still feel it. That unmistakable summer feeling.
The days seem a little longer. Life feels a little less rushed.
People gather more. We linger outside. We eat sweet summer fruit, sit by the pool, fire up the barbecue, and stay out later than usual.
Maybe it’s nostalgia. Maybe it’s the extra daylight. Or maybe summer simply gives us permission to do something many adults forget to do:
Play.
When I worked in the television industry, we had Summer Fridays. When the workload permitted, we would leave the office after lunch and have the rest of the day to ourselves.
What I remember most isn’t what I accomplished during those hours.
It’s how I felt.
Lighter.
More carefree.
Joyful.
Somewhere along the way, many of us become experts at responsibility and forget how to enjoy ourselves. We tell ourselves we’ll relax after the next deadline, the next project, or the next milestone.
But what if joy isn’t something we earn after everything is done? What if it’s part of the reason we’re here?
A vacation doesn’t have to involve an airport. Sometimes it simply means stepping outside your routine.
Taking an afternoon off. Calling a friend. Reading a novel. Playing a round of golf. Sitting on the porch. Doing something that serves no purpose other than bringing you joy.
So I’ll leave you with this question: What used to bring you joy that you’ve quietly stopped doing?
And what would happen if you brought a little of that back into your life this summer?
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply ready to reconnect with what matters most, I’m now offering a limited number of focused 30-minute coaching sessions for $125.
Sometimes one conversation is all it takes to gain clarity, create momentum, or remember what’s been missing.
Reply to this email if you’d like to learn more.
Happy Summer! 😎
Jackie
