Warm summer days go by at a slow pace. Perhaps you’re spending days at the beach, staying in water the entire afternoon, lazying around in the sun, or discovering some new and interesting place. I’m still at half speed, because summer is just the sort of time when I like taking it easy and become less occupied with work and life in general. That is why I take more time for the small big things that make my life nicer and are usually the key to my happiness. Here’s five and I’m sure you will find interest in some of them.
Collect something from the sea. I’m not much of a souvenir person, they usually just gather dust in my room, but I do like the things I can use throughout the year and objects that carry certain emotions with them. I’m fascinated by the sea and anything I can find on the shore. Pebbles, pieces of coral, golden sand or dried wood. Sofia and I go hunting for the perfect pebble every year. It has to be completely smooth and as beautiful as possible. The pebble becomes a symbol stone of good wishes and gratitude , which I usually carry in my pocket, and sometimes she does. It keeps us company the whole year round, and it keeps alive so many seaside stories and memories that every member of our family stays focused on the vacation. This makes work and all the days, when there is no time to take a normal breath, much more bearable.
Walk barefoot. Now’s the time to connect to nature in a different way. The beach is the ideal place to go barefoot, which is not only healthy, but, perhaps even more importantly, has a therapeutic effect on the soul. Similar is true for walking the line of sea, where there are still some waves, and the water provedes a natural massage. I always feel that it helps calm the mind, perhaps it even helps certain thoughts dissolve. Either way, it’s worth a try.
Make a summer soundtrack. I think that music is the key to making sure some moments stay with us forever, eternal and wonderful. Choose songs you like the most and that you associate to this time, and then store them and make them into a sort of summer treasure that you get to use in the winter. The songs don’t have to be top hits, just songs you like and mean something to you. They’re the ones that become timeless.
Home spa. You probably have some more time now, so try creating a home spa. You don’t need much: a bath filled with warm water, scented bath salt, lots of candles, quiet and calming music, fresh towels and no one around. Water cleanses everything and has a soothing effect, a warm bath is certainly magical, because it rids you of every care and can help fighting sleep deprivation and chronic fatigue. The fact you can do it at home and have everything at hand is all the more positive.
Play around with nail polish. It may seem strange, but personally, it relaxes me a lot. I like cared for hands and feet, and nail polish plays a crucial part, especially now, with all the colours. I remain true to blue and violet, and there is also a lot of red, milky and pink. I never see it as a burden ‒ I have fun and end up feeling, well, polished. My advice is, get small bottles, because there are many colours you are going to use now, but you won’t use them next summer. And this type of nail polish doesn’t cost much, so you can get more shades without making a dent in the wallet.