The beginning of the year gets a lot of press as a time for resolutions and renewal, but for those of us who aren’t morning people let alone beginning of the year people, I propose the summer reset. It’s less about adding structure to your life and more about stripping it down to the essentials. It’s about uncovering the self that’s been buried under the stress of everyday living and hanging that sucker on the line to air-dry.
Rather than the ruled lines of a diet or exercise plan, it should feel like the slow submersion of your body after kicking off a floating dock. It’s an escape—a reveal—best done near the ocean, but a lake, a pond, or a kiddie pool will do in a pinch. It’s a state of mind, after all. Here are my suggested ingredients; take as needed until September.
A morning swim
A fresh piece of fruit
An afternoon swim
An ice cream cone
An outdoor shower
A dead laptop battery
A nap anywhere except your bed
A cold beer
A phone with no service
An unexpectedly deep conversation on the porch
A card game you haven’t played since you were a kid
The sound of the wind whistling through the trees
The warm afterglow of a sunset
A nightcap
A worn paperback
A song that’s stuck in your head that you don’t mind
justice for lakes
Can’t forget night swim :)