Summer is here, and although 2020 has been quite the year so far, summer has a way of rejuvenating us and bringing about a new surge of energy.
With all that’s going on in the world right now, being present and enjoying this season for all it has to offer can be quite challenging.
This post is about bringing you back to the present moment to experience and feel this summer to the maximum – through all your senses, or all the senses you have access to.
Can’t Stop The Feeling
Are you singing it with me? If you don’t know what I am talking about, I invite you to read this article while you listen to ‘Can’t stop the feeling’ on YouTube.
In Sweden, summer is gold! Summer means soaking in the long days, swimming in lakes nearby, cycling freely, picking berries in the forest, and my favorite – celebrating the summer solstice by picking wildflowers and making flower crowns for my hair. ALL of this heightens your sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) because you want to take it all in before it disappears, and we are in darkness, I mean, winter again.
Awaken All Your Senses.
I’m here to awaken you to the full experience of summer through all your senses. Take it all in, not just through the beauty that you see.
I challenge you to tap into your entire sensory experience and feel what it means to be present this summer.
Let’s explore your five senses:
- Seeing is believing.
- Wake up and smell the roses, baby.
- Taste the flavors of summer.
- Feel it, touch it.
- Listen to the sound of life.
Seeing Is Believing
Have you ever stopped to notice something for the first time and thought, ‘has this always been here?’
What would you see today that you hadn’t seen before if you took the time to notice it?
Take the time to notice everything this summer – the new flowers that bloom in your back yard, the curiosity of a child in exploration mode, the vibrant colors of all the produce at your local market or grocery store, or the joy on someone’s face. See it all!
Wake Up & Smell The Roses, Baby
Some scents have a way of transporting me right back to a feeling or to a specific moment in time; can you relate?
The smell of a BBQ does that to me. It takes me back home to moments with friends and family. And it makes me say ‘ah, I feel like a ‘braai’ right now,’ which is what we call a BBQ in South Africa.
I love the smell of summer—the smell of the earth after a glorious summer rain, the wildflowers in the forests, fresh herbs like basil. Allow yourself to be open to the scents of summer and be there for it – in the moment!
Taste The Flavors Of Summer
In our modern society, food has become something we rush through – we rush through breakfast, grab a bite to eat, eat at the counter, and not at our tables.
Whatever you taste this summer, I invite you to slow down and savor it. Biting into a freshly cut piece of watermelon on a hot summer day is my taste of summer. For my husband, it’s enjoying an ice-cold beer.
Feel It, Touch It
When I first experienced a Swedish summer after a long winter, I quickly realized how I took the sun, and this season, for granted back home. In South Africa, sunshine wasn’t this rare commodity – it was something you just expected every day.
Touching summer may seem like a strange concept, but for me, it means feeling the sunshine on my face, touching the trees and their leaves, and walking barefoot on the earth.
Listen To The Sound Of Life
You are alive. Yes, you are. SO much had to happen for you to be here.
I love hearing the sound of all that surrounds me during my walks, which is why I choose not to walk with my headphones.
The sound of birds chirping in the summer is my favorite – and they sound even happier after a summer rain. The sound of water splashing as someone jumps into a lake or pool is another summer favorite.
The sound of the world around us can bring a sense of peace and calm – if we allow it to.
I invite you to use all your five senses when you experience summer this year. When you bite into a watermelon, notice the color and notice where you are in that moment, what do you hear? When you enjoy a BBQ with family or friends, notice the smiles on their faces, smell and taste the food, hear the laughter around you, feel the earth beneath your feet – YES! Take those shoes off!
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