Joy feels like a salve on the sunburn of discomfort
Summer solstice makes its hot entrance this Thursday here in the northern hemisphere.
The official mark of summer season highlights longer days with more time to be outside and active in the evenings and lots of garden watching for me. Last summer solstice felt like an invitation to devotion. This summer solstice feels more both/and. Great moments of joy and a hefty dose of discomfort with the heat and lack of rain.
I think bringing my attention to moments of joy will help me feel embodied and connected this summer, instead of disassociating and wishing for something different. Here in northern Colorado, summer has started hotter than hot–as is true for many of us, as we continue the warmest year on record globally. [Read this if you’re curious about the connection between heat waves and climate because one of the best ways we can advocate for climate action with others is talking about data and changes needed.]
There’s also a hefty dose of solastalgia partnered with this particular summer solstice. Solastalgia is the term that describes the feeling of missing home while being home due to climate-related environmental changes. In the last couple Embodied Climate Action workshops I’ve led, we’ve been able to name some experiences that can kick us into doom and gloom or numbing. That’s why it’s so important to hold the joyful parts that bring us back into the present moment of gratitude and acceptance.
Joy feels like a salve on the sunburn of discomfort.
A prompt in our Creative Cocoon workshop last week was to write 20 things that bring joy in a regenerative way. Their homework was to write a list of 10 more. We talked about how to regenerate your creative energy in small ways throughout your day or week. We often get stuck thinking creativity work has to be some grand gesture, but what if it was small moments of watching the butterflies on a work break?
As I type this newsletter from my back patio, I watch the honey bees and Hunt’s bumble bees (with their fuzzy orange bands) visiting all the white clover we planted last summer after digging out the lawn. The nourishment of that clover both above and below the soil brings me great joy.
Community connection is another thing that is bringing me great joy. Our neighborhood has Alley League games where folks from one alley form a team and compete against other teams Monday evenings through the summer. It started last week and the Sherwood Bunnies (that’s my alley) met up with the Magnolia Moondogs for cornhole. What joy to meet neighbors we didn’t know and to get to know some others better. Knowing your neighborhood sure changes the feel of belonging and connection in beautiful ways.
What about you?
Go ahead, pause reading, and take 5 minutes to reflect for yourself.
What does summer bring up in your embodied memories and longings?
List 10, 20, or 30 little things that bring you joy this season.
And if you’re looking to set some embodied summer intentions, check out these reflection questions that you can adapt to create momentum on your joy list.