Embrace your summer spirit.

I try not to buy too many coffee table books, but I love Lauren Liess’s interior designs, so when I saw she had a new book out called Beach Life, I was sold. I waited my customary 48 hours for impulse purchases, then moved it into my cart.

The book is mostly pictures of beach-themed homes (whether they are near the shore or not) but Liess opens the book with a quote from one of her daughters: “I can feel my summer spirit.” As they neared the ocean, the little girl announced that she could sense this new mindset taking over. “It feels like happiness and brightness. And it’s wild.”

I love this image. In adulthood, summer may not be that different from the rest of the year. Most of us still need to work. The dishwasher still needs to be emptied and the trash taken out. But if you grew up with summers off from school, there is still a sense that this is a special time. Perhaps it is happiness and brightness. And wild.

I have been trying to cultivate that sense this summer. Bedtimes have gotten a little lax, but it’s OK — we’re sleeping later too. The other night we ate dinner on the porch as a storm was coming in and the two of us who stayed at the table longest had to race inside in the rain. We go in the pool most nights as the sun is setting.

Even if your kids go back to school in August (mine don’t until Labor Day), there is still plenty of time to embrace your summer spirit. What would conjure up a sense of brightness and wildness over the next few weeks? Maybe it’s a weekend day trip to a nearby lake, or a jaunt to get ice cream some night. Maybe it’s a picnic breakfast or a weekend trip to visit a friend.

I’m sure it’s possible to keep a summer spirit even as the days get darker and colder, but it will be challenging. So best to make the most of the next few weeks. Any day can feel brighter and wilder with the right mindset. So how will you keep your summer spirit happy?

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