Here we are in mid-August and the days continue to fly by. Those of us who live in the northern part of the United States relish summer because it is so fleeting. We hang on to it like a precious jewel – or we try to hang on to it – but with little luck. Time marches on whether we like it or not.

We still have a little over a month of this wonderful season left before we have to start bringing in the lawn furniture and bringing out cooler sweaters and jackets. If you haven’t done so already, there are some things you can still do to enjoy this golden time of warmth before the summer season morphs into autumn. The best thing is that these things are low or no cost, so read on!

  1. Go outside about 10:00 p.m., when the neighborhood is relatively quiet. Breathe in the summer air and do some star gazing before going to bed. Be thankful for the day just lived and for the day ahead.
  2. Make time to get in some summer walks during your lunch hour or in the early evening. A half hour will do if that is all you have, or even fifteen minutes if you’re really pressed for time. During your walk capture the images in your mind of the green leaves on the trees before they start to turn into their spectacular yellows, oranges, and reds. Listen to the sounds around you – dogs barking, bees buzzing, birds chirping, and the sound of your own breathing. Look up at the sky as you walk.
  3. Go to your local ice cream shop like Mel’s Creamery in downtown Pawcatuck, Dusty’s Ice Cream on Atlantic Avenue by Misquamicut beach, St. Clair Annex in Watch Hill, or Pompelmo Gelateria in downtown Westerly. Enjoy a banana split, or if you are so lucky to have one, watch for the local ice cream truck coming down your street. Ice cream from the “ice cream man” will bring back so many childhood memories.
  4. Take photos of your garden flowers or those in your neighborhood park. You can look at them in January during a blizzard and they will bring a smile to your face. You can use the photos again in March as you plan out next year’s garden.
  5. If you have a backyard, make sure to steal as many moments as you can in your lounge chair or hammock, just resting. Part of the reason why life goes by so fast is that we don’t take moments to rest, reflect, think, and enjoy the beauty around us. God made these summer days for us to rest and enjoy – take advantage of every moment you can get.
  6. Run down to the Westerly Library and pick up a good summer read. Yes, you can download it, but get back in touch with the old-fashioned ways of doing things and actually sit in the yard, patio, on your deck, or on a blanket in the park, and hold a nice hardcover book in your hands. Turn the pages. Smell the pages. Pick a pretty bookmark to keep your place – maybe a real leaf?
  7. Forget the powdered ice tea and lemonade mixes – make your own! Drink it slowly – no gulping!
  8. If you are used to having air conditioners on all the time – shut them off. Open all the windows. Turn on some fans and enjoy summer as it used to be. Sleep with the windows open and enjoy the nighttime breezes. Plus, the electric bill will be lower!
  9. Take a drive with the only purpose being enjoyment. Pick a country road and just drive. Stop as you want at antique shops, ice cream shops and avoid malls and box stores. Or, don’t stop anywhere at all. Play your favorite music loudly and sing along. Stick your arm out the window and feel the breeze. Forget the car’s AC because it shuts out the breeze, scents, and sounds all around you.
  10. This last tip is the most important. Find a great quiet place outside – the beach, a picnic bench, your backyard, etc… Shut off all technology. Bring a notebook and pen and write down your memories of this summer, or of summers in the past. Reflect on your life. Become aware of quiet and then listen. Listen to yourself, and most importantly, listen to the world around you.

So, who needs fancy vacations and summer beach gear? Summer can be enjoyable and simple. We only have about six or seven weeks left of this glorious season to enjoy in our southwestern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut areas so grab onto what is left and enjoy!