Late Summer Returns

I grew up not liking the month of August very much. Living on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, August was always thick with heat, humidity and threats of hurricanes. And I didn’t like any of that so I ended up cultivating a great distaste for the month and did my best to just get through it as quickly as I possibly could. 

During this year’s long summer of heat and no rain here in Texas where I live now, I decided to embrace the season and the uncomfortable weather by challenging myself to look for something beautiful each day which has actually turned out to be such a good experiment. Some days have been easier than others and there have been a lot of repeating themes, but the most important part is that I have opened my eyes to see things a little differently, or at least I have tried to do that which has been very good for me. 

As I have walked through the month of August this year with my new approach of seeking beauty in these days, what I have discovered is that this month holds so much beauty in the quiet anticipation of the arrival of new seasons and new beginnings that happen on the canvas of returning.

August is a month of returning. Returning to school, to routines, to indoor living, and indoor gatherings. It’s a returning to home, which I love! Colors, textures, flavors, tastes, spaces, and conversations get a little richer, a little deeper, and they begin inviting us to linger in them just a little bit longer. And I have found that the gift of this month that I grew up intensely disliking is full of precious, savoring anticipation of a return to fresh beginnings rich with new possibilities.

So, I urge you as you walk through this season of late summer to soak in the moments of this overlooked but beautiful in-between season of returning. Linger, savor, explore, and enjoy!

Happy late summer friends!
Michele