Summer Mood: 12 Steps to Happiness

“and when all the wars are over, a butterfly will still be beautiful.” ~ Ruskin Bond

I saw a sign yesterday that said: “Why do we only rest in peace, why don’t we live in peace too?” In the words of Maya Angelou, in order to live in peace, each of us must take time to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us. This sabbatical from care is a time to absorb peace. It is a time to rise above anxiety; it is a time to pursue those things which are higher and deeper.

One study suggests a person only gets 15 days of true happiness per year. 15 days. What a small amount of time in the grand scheme of things. What about the other 50ish weeks out of the year? Summer is a perfect time to absorb peace and increase happiness by focusing on the little things.

Since small things make the greatest impact, here is a list of my summer pleasures.

Summer Pleasures

1. Grilled foods! Especially cheeseburgers

2. Listening to audiobooks (y’all know I’m addicted)

3. Sunshine and real books! We need vitamin D.

4. Desserts 😍😍😍

5. Yellow and black butterflies (I saw one today)

6. Flowers!! Petunias and knockout roses and lillies

7. Warm weather, followed by summer rain. *best enjoyed on a front porch

8. Hanging with puppers! They smile so much in summer 🙂

9. A walk on a beautiful path with the wind blowing

10. Ripe strawberries in a bowl of cereal

11. The endlessness of the ocean and the stretch of horizon

12. Praise and worship with sand on my feet and shells in hand

Savor the little things of summer and increase your reserve of peace and happiness. What’s your summer pleasures list? Share in the comments.

Yours in summer,

Andi

Isaiah 61:3

 

“Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and right-doing there is a field. I’ll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about.”

~ Rumi