Yes to all of this - my husband is a school teacher, so all of our family’s hard-won routines go completely out the window in the summer. On the one hand, it’s such a gift to have him home with us more, but on the other, it necessitates so much more flexibility and patience than I am used to needing! Add in the total exhaustion that comes with spending time in the sun each day, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a season that can be both tremendously trying and tremendously sanctifying. Thank you for the reminder to lean into it instead of trying to escape it or longing for it to be over.
Summer has grown on me over the years. Having a summer baby did the most of that shift (he's 6 now). Seeing the season through his eyes and needing to be active more outside pushed me to see more of it's beauty. Like in June, the fireflies begin to appear. July marks the return of cicadas and August heralds the echoing chirp of crickets.
But even with that push to change perspectives, I struggle to not wilt in the heat. I prefer the warm days and cool evenings of autumn when boots and sweaters reign rather than sandals and sweat.
I did appreciate the highlight of this season as a growing season, when fruits and veggies become numerous and flowers bloom. I didn't consider the heat and sun to honestly be a good thing. I've just pushed through it begrudgingly. But that made me stop and ask myself: What is growing in me in this season, what is blooming and what needs celebrating? Summer isn't all strife ans I needed that reminder.
I used to hate summer. If you ask my wife about me and summer, she’d say I’d often growl in aggravation. A little background is warranted here. I live in South Florida, and not only is it hot in summer, but it can get unreasonably muggy. The ironic thing is that I’m from Jamaica, so you’d think I’d love the heat. Anyway, as the years have passed, I find I actually like the heat and don’t mind the mugginess too much.
To answer the second question, I don’t exactly feel like I’m wilting, but I often feel frustrated with not getting everything I want to do. I’m a high school and college teacher, so I get the summers off. I always have a long list of things I want to accomplish, not the least working on my writing projects. But inevitably, “life” gets in the way, and I don’t accomplish nearly as much as I’d like. So, yes, I guess I do feel a bit wilty.
The refreshing thing about summer, though, is that I get to spend extended time with God, reading and reflecting on His Word. And today, I my body is telling me to rest, so I’ve been enjoying the book that you recommended, Listening to the Heart of God by J. Philip Newell. Thanks for the suggestion, @sereid .
I remember that feeling very well, of wanting to tick everything off of my "summer list" but not feeling I have the time to do it all! A tough feeling to shake, but I appreciate how you bring it back to taking time with God and His Word. (And I'm so glad you're enjoying the book!)
I have never been a summer person either, to be honest. The season of summer makes me perpetually tired, and I never feel quite comfortable. Now autumn, autumn is my season! I know that things renew in spring and everything dormant is made beautiful again. But there is something about when autumn hits. Although I myself haven't had a "first day of school" in eons, there is something about that feeling, that newness of the calendar page that just invigorates me and reminds me that as the leaves fall, anything is possible. 🍂
Summer is my least favorite season and I am perpetually irritable from late June thru late September here in St. Louis. The heat and humidity physically make me feel at my worst, and even here in the Midwest we are now often dealing with poor air quality from wildfires up north. I try not to feel guilty or left out for not being outdoors much, and just embrace that my body much prefers autumn, so I allow myself to enjoy books and movies indoors and take as much advantage of cooler days as possible. Libraries and art museums are wonderful air conditioned adventures in the summer!
Hailing from the Midwest as well and I completely relate to what you said about being irritable from late June to September. June was actually beautiful and less muggy here but then the last week of June got hot, we also had wildfire smoke and our outdoor time became excessively tiresome.
I loved your suggestion about art museums tho! Maybe I need to give that a go to get a break from the heat.
I'll be the odd man out and reveal that summer is my favorite season. I just can't get over the extended daylight hours and its as if I can feel the earth working all summer long.
My twin brother and I grew up with our retired grandfather watching us during summer breaks, providing my mother free childcare. He was one of 12 siblings (many of whom were already elderly), and he was also the deacon of his Baptist church. Our summers were full of yardwork and or assisting him with handiwork in aid of his numerous siblings or homebound members of his church.
Not only did I pick up his work ethic but gained a love for the time of year we were doing it in.
We were dog tired and sweaty by the end of most days. Middle Georgia is a very hot and humid place in the summer. But my grandfather taught us that our work was all about helping people. Now I consider even my own yardwork as a way to serve and love my family, and I get to exercise in the great outdoors while doing it. This work really improved my physical endurance as well.
And then came my summers as a camp counselor on Tybee Island. After a long day keeping up with kids, it was heartening to, sometimes, be able to end your night on the beach watching the sunset.
Don't get me wrong, I love the first breeze of autumn when late September comes but I always sigh a bit to see summer go.
I enjoy the sunshine, but always have mixed feelings as I don't take my holidays in the summer, so find it's that slightly strange time when not too many people are around and I'm at work. I try and balance getting things done like new recordings and creating, whilst taking time to rest and enjoy the slower pace. 🙏
Totally understand this, even as a freelancer! When I worked in education, summers were time to share with friends who were also off of work. Not the same feeling nowadays, even though I enjoy freelancing so much more. I like your reminder to still lean in to the "slowness" of savoring summer.
Yes to all of this - my husband is a school teacher, so all of our family’s hard-won routines go completely out the window in the summer. On the one hand, it’s such a gift to have him home with us more, but on the other, it necessitates so much more flexibility and patience than I am used to needing! Add in the total exhaustion that comes with spending time in the sun each day, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a season that can be both tremendously trying and tremendously sanctifying. Thank you for the reminder to lean into it instead of trying to escape it or longing for it to be over.
"...a season that can be both tremendously trying and tremendously sanctifying" is an excellent way to describe summer.
Summer has grown on me over the years. Having a summer baby did the most of that shift (he's 6 now). Seeing the season through his eyes and needing to be active more outside pushed me to see more of it's beauty. Like in June, the fireflies begin to appear. July marks the return of cicadas and August heralds the echoing chirp of crickets.
But even with that push to change perspectives, I struggle to not wilt in the heat. I prefer the warm days and cool evenings of autumn when boots and sweaters reign rather than sandals and sweat.
I did appreciate the highlight of this season as a growing season, when fruits and veggies become numerous and flowers bloom. I didn't consider the heat and sun to honestly be a good thing. I've just pushed through it begrudgingly. But that made me stop and ask myself: What is growing in me in this season, what is blooming and what needs celebrating? Summer isn't all strife ans I needed that reminder.
"Summer isn't all strife." - I need this on a T-shirt. 😅
I used to hate summer. If you ask my wife about me and summer, she’d say I’d often growl in aggravation. A little background is warranted here. I live in South Florida, and not only is it hot in summer, but it can get unreasonably muggy. The ironic thing is that I’m from Jamaica, so you’d think I’d love the heat. Anyway, as the years have passed, I find I actually like the heat and don’t mind the mugginess too much.
To answer the second question, I don’t exactly feel like I’m wilting, but I often feel frustrated with not getting everything I want to do. I’m a high school and college teacher, so I get the summers off. I always have a long list of things I want to accomplish, not the least working on my writing projects. But inevitably, “life” gets in the way, and I don’t accomplish nearly as much as I’d like. So, yes, I guess I do feel a bit wilty.
The refreshing thing about summer, though, is that I get to spend extended time with God, reading and reflecting on His Word. And today, I my body is telling me to rest, so I’ve been enjoying the book that you recommended, Listening to the Heart of God by J. Philip Newell. Thanks for the suggestion, @sereid .
I remember that feeling very well, of wanting to tick everything off of my "summer list" but not feeling I have the time to do it all! A tough feeling to shake, but I appreciate how you bring it back to taking time with God and His Word. (And I'm so glad you're enjoying the book!)
I have never been a summer person either, to be honest. The season of summer makes me perpetually tired, and I never feel quite comfortable. Now autumn, autumn is my season! I know that things renew in spring and everything dormant is made beautiful again. But there is something about when autumn hits. Although I myself haven't had a "first day of school" in eons, there is something about that feeling, that newness of the calendar page that just invigorates me and reminds me that as the leaves fall, anything is possible. 🍂
Fall always feels more like "the new year" to me than the new year does! Such a wonderful, transformative time.
No air conditioning at weedom, (zone 6) so the inside is closer to the outside.
Summer is a gift! So is perspiration, which is a cleansing process. :-D
I like this perspective!! Need to internalize this one. Summer as cleansing. Perfect.
Not a summer fan at all. Definitely feel wilty the whole time. Diving into the lake out back is the way I cope with it.
There we are: the Reids, grumping our way through summer. 😂
Yup pretty much.
Summer is my least favorite season and I am perpetually irritable from late June thru late September here in St. Louis. The heat and humidity physically make me feel at my worst, and even here in the Midwest we are now often dealing with poor air quality from wildfires up north. I try not to feel guilty or left out for not being outdoors much, and just embrace that my body much prefers autumn, so I allow myself to enjoy books and movies indoors and take as much advantage of cooler days as possible. Libraries and art museums are wonderful air conditioned adventures in the summer!
Hailing from the Midwest as well and I completely relate to what you said about being irritable from late June to September. June was actually beautiful and less muggy here but then the last week of June got hot, we also had wildfire smoke and our outdoor time became excessively tiresome.
I loved your suggestion about art museums tho! Maybe I need to give that a go to get a break from the heat.
I'll be the odd man out and reveal that summer is my favorite season. I just can't get over the extended daylight hours and its as if I can feel the earth working all summer long.
My twin brother and I grew up with our retired grandfather watching us during summer breaks, providing my mother free childcare. He was one of 12 siblings (many of whom were already elderly), and he was also the deacon of his Baptist church. Our summers were full of yardwork and or assisting him with handiwork in aid of his numerous siblings or homebound members of his church.
Not only did I pick up his work ethic but gained a love for the time of year we were doing it in.
We were dog tired and sweaty by the end of most days. Middle Georgia is a very hot and humid place in the summer. But my grandfather taught us that our work was all about helping people. Now I consider even my own yardwork as a way to serve and love my family, and I get to exercise in the great outdoors while doing it. This work really improved my physical endurance as well.
And then came my summers as a camp counselor on Tybee Island. After a long day keeping up with kids, it was heartening to, sometimes, be able to end your night on the beach watching the sunset.
Don't get me wrong, I love the first breeze of autumn when late September comes but I always sigh a bit to see summer go.
I enjoy the sunshine, but always have mixed feelings as I don't take my holidays in the summer, so find it's that slightly strange time when not too many people are around and I'm at work. I try and balance getting things done like new recordings and creating, whilst taking time to rest and enjoy the slower pace. 🙏
Totally understand this, even as a freelancer! When I worked in education, summers were time to share with friends who were also off of work. Not the same feeling nowadays, even though I enjoy freelancing so much more. I like your reminder to still lean in to the "slowness" of savoring summer.