Ah, the first day of summer. Although I always find something lovely to enjoy about all of our seasons, summer is my favorite. As a girl growing up in the northeast, my summertime meant a family vacation to look forward to, long lazy days spent mostly outside, and  freedom to roam, to daydream and to play.

Remember that glorious feeling on the day after the last day of school? Knowing you had the whole summer ahead of you to ride your bike, go on adventures with your friends, build tree forts, lay in the grass and read, go swimming, ride high on the swings, pick raspberries, go on picnics and eat outside. Pure bliss. The possibilities were endless and you had the freedom to choose what you would do. (Well, mostly. You still had grown-ups to contend with!)

Now that I’m a grown-up, summer still feels like freedom and abundance and ripening. The extra hours of daylight; the sunshine and blue sky; the warm fragrant nights; the green things growing; the flowers; the birds, bees and butterflies; the fireflies. Everything in full bloom. Everything displaying its very best. It’s a profusion of wild, free, victorious life and it calls out to me.  “Slow down,” it says.  “See how magnificent, how alive I am.  Be this wild. Be this alive,” it says.

And so from my wild heart to yours, here are some ideas for a spirited summer.  May they spark something new in you.

Go on a picnic. Slurp on a popsicle. Munch on some watermelon. Go to the lake. Practice skipping stones. Catch some fireflies in a jar, let them go, and there you are; bask in your own amazement. Go on a bike ride. Sit on the porch and sip on a frosty glass of lemonade. Lay in the grass and gaze up at the sky. Smell the green things growing. Daydream. Enjoy a juicy peach. Go barefoot. Go to the beach. Feel these: sunshine, sand and sea; salty breeze caressing skin; sand between your toes. Build a sand sculpture (it doesn’t have to be a castle). Body surf the waves. Go on a treasure hunt for sea glass or that perfect shell.

Plant something. Play in the dirt. Take an evening stroll with your honey. Go to an outdoor concert. Float down a lazy river. Do something silly. Blow soapy bubbles. Color on the sidewalk with chalk. Skip on down the road. Go exploring in the woods. Grill something delicious and dine outdoors by candlelight. Feast on fresh corn on the cob.  Chase a butterfly. Listen to the breeze in the trees. Build a tree fort. Watch the stars come out. Make a wish.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

____________________________________________________________