Yesterday was a day which screamed summer from the beginning to the end. The start of the day had the perfect blue sky and the big low hanging billowy clouds. The sun was already hot; the weather report was calling for a very hot and humid day- I’m not a big fan of the humidity. Stepping outside on the front porch with the dogs and my morning brew I decided then and there that I was giving myself permission to make it a relaxing day, a peaceful summer day.
Morning Routine
Following my weekend at Kripalu I have adopted a new morning routine. It consists of sitting quietly, breathing in 3x deeply with a slow release, feeling how your body feels and setting intentions. This is actually it is all explained in Sherianne Boyle’s book, Energy in Action (https://sheriannaboyle.com). It’s a wonderful routine to start the day. After this routine I continue the waking up process. Listening to the birds and planning my relaxation for the day.
I rarely allow myself to have a day just to relax; it is something that I am working on. However, once a planner always a planner LOL! The heat index was going to be close to 90 degrees so taking the dogs for a walk was out for now. Hopefully, tonight it will be cooler, and a walk may be possible. The day was overall very relaxing, I did not do any errands, did not have any appointments and was able to read a bit of my new book, the latest book by Lisa See. I highly recommend it.
Enjoying Local Offerings
At night my husband and I went to see an outdoor concert in a smaller neighboring community. The band played on a makeshift stage in a local park. People brought chairs which were sprinkled among the available picnic tables. A large crowd of the townspeople attended. Sweaty, barefooted children were dancing in front of the stage. While many spectators followed along clapping or singing to the local stars’ latest country songs. Sitting and enjoying this open-air concert with so many others was a quintessential summer evening.
As the temperature dropped a bit, the arrival of the evening light started the concert ended, making it a wonderful way to end the day. A day like today fills me with so much gratitude for the simpler things in life. I hope you find as I did, that happiness comes from noticing and enjoying the little things in life. A peaceful summer day can be so special.
A Peaceful Summer Day
Noticing the small things in life can bring a lot of joy and mindfulness to your everyday experiences. It is about appreciating the details that often go unnoticed, the way the sun filters through the trees at sunset, how the music reverberates through the park. It’s these little moments that can add richness to your day and help you stay present and find so many things to appreciate around you.
Thanks for being here,
-Soraya
Interested in reading about one of my favorite summer memories? Check out my A Friend Through All Seasons: Through Thick & Thin post.