Simple Summer Joys

By Brenda Jank

Originally published in June 2016, Brenda’s words have meaning for us this day! 

Ready for summer?  It’s here – with an invitation to things we often neglect.

I’ve got 2 “assignments” for you today.

One. If you’ve got 10 free minutes and want to challenge your core beliefs and understanding of play, in a way that is dynamic and energizing, listen to Stuart Brown’s TED talk sometime this week. Steeped in science, it’s a game changer. 

Two. Dream.
What simple summer joys can be yours, if a tad of intentionality is factored into the weeks that lie before you?

Make a list. Post it on your fridge. Share it on this post. Engage. Enjoy. Don’t delay. Don’t wait for a convenient time. It will never transpire. The operative word is N O W.

Here’s a “starter” list to put you in the mood.

Eat an ice-cream cone. Chase down an ice-cream truck. Pick a dandelion. Lay out under the stars. Learn to skip stones. Dance in the spray of a sprinkler. (Let a little one lead the way.) Blow bubbles on your porch . . . every day. Walk through the grass barefoot. (How long has it been?) Build a sand castle. Mimic a bird; see if he talks back. Sit on your porch. Linger. Do something you haven’t done in years Ride a bike. Go canoeing. Roast a marshmallow. Nap in a hammock. Let cotton candy melt in your mouth. Dance with your shadow on a sunset walk . . .

Friends, this is just the beginning!

Make this a summer of white space, Margin. Breathing room. It will tap into something mysterious and miraculous . . . for you, yes! But also for those you love.


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