The Nostalgia of Summer

Happy Summer!

Ever since I was a young girl, I have romanticized and daydreamed about each season. I especially idealized summer. After all, summer was the time for sleeping in, vacations, double sleepovers and later nights, reading more novels and no homework.

I remember long, waterlogged days at the swim club topped with cherry water ice and adventure movies from Blockbuster (pre-Netflix days). I remember fireworks, cotton candy and splashing in tide pools with my cousins each Fourth of July. I remember giggling with girls over boys and burnt marshmallows around the campfire. I remember swinging from the rope bridge into the creek and catching frogs. I remember midnight swims under the stars and late-night expeditions to the abandoned trains.

As I got older, I taught swim lessons and served piles of melting ice cream (I have plenty of stories), cooling off in whatever pool I could access. It was the season for beach trips, adrenaline-pumped roller coaster marathons and summer romance. Even into my adulthood days summer meant longer days, weekends hikes or winery days and slower pacing at work.

One of my favorite summer pastimes was to grab my iPod and set out on a longgggg adventurous run wherever my legs would take me. I glided alongside battlefields, parks, meadows, cornfields, bubbling streams and various trails. Even drenched in sweat or soaked from torrential rain, those long runs gave me such adrenaline and joy.

Suffice it to say, I associate summer with special memories that I continue to treasure and build on each year. But since entering the "real world" and battling a chronic illness, I realize that the struggles, setbacks, cares and demands of life can often overshadow my hopeful expectations for summer.

So that leads me to why I wrote this article--to share how I intend to make the most of summer despite hardships and limits.

1.) Reasonable Expectations and Perspective

Expectations are everything.

I believe realistic expectations and a healthy perspective makes life infinitely more enjoyable.

When I look back at my childhood summers, it really is amazing how fortunate I was. If I had been born in other parts of the world or without the same privileges, a good summer might have simply meant access to a meal and clean water. Or staying alive under brutal weather conditions or not losing anyone I love for just leaving the house. When I allow that real contrast to sink in, my perspective shifts and I am overwhelmed with how good I've had it.

On the contrast, I can easily look around on social media at all the trips, adventures and new things everyone else appears to be experiencing and feel discontent and even envious. It can be especially difficult to see healthier people enjoying things I used to love doing, like running, hiking, touring new areas, etc. But I am learning (slowly) to accept and embrace the my current limits.

The only way I can enjoy this summer or my life at all is to stop comparing to my peers or even my pre-Lyme self. I may be physically and financially limited, but there are still many things I can do and amazing people to share them with. Embracing that perspective is absolutely freeing.

2.) Savor the Little Things

It sounds cliche, but the simple, small gifts in life can bring true joy to our days if we let them. Sometimes it's tempting to believe I cannot enjoy life until I have some big, fun thing to look forward to (or until I get better). Even when I do have something legitimately special planned, the kind of mindset that my life is on hold until that happens can make all the days in between feel like wasted space. But enjoying the many smaller-scale gifts along the way is a light switch to deeper fulfillment.

I still have a long way to go, but I have started to develop a healthier appreciation for the simple joys in life. Driving on a scenic road with the windows down, blasting show tunes and sipping a Dunkin' Doughnuts iced coffee can make my entire day. Sitting on my porch, fresh coffee in hand, birds chirping and breeze blowing as I read my Bible becomes the highlight of my day. Or a late night adventure into an epic fantasy world with a novel I just can't put down can bring an electric amusement.

My summer goes from ho-hum and mundane to delightful and memorable when I can truly savor these seemingly mundane gifts.

3.) Keep Special Things Special

I feel like there is a recurring theme here, but another way to make the most of sumer is planning some special occasions but keeping them special rather than the expected normal.

I actually heard another blogger talk about this idea and it really spoke to me. In the context of budgeting and living within one's means, she discussed how luxury items are not meant for every day, but meant to remain special for certain occasions. This argument really hit home with me. While I love vacations, dinner dates, specialty coffees and new treats, I agree that these little indulgences are meant to remain special rather than the daily norm. The mindset actually magnifies the joy of these experiences as they truly become set apart as memorable.

One of the best ways for me to appreciate my summer is to intentionally plan out some extra memorable things to partake in and share with others. Fortunately my church community plans a lot of fun and free summer events to look forward to that can be special and affordable!

The Heart of the Matter

At the end of the day, I believe that if I keep my perspective in check, set reasonable expectations, appreciate the simple joys and keep special occasions special, I will have an amazing summer!

I would love to hear if anyone else has thoughts or tips about what makes a great summer!