It’s almost summer. The summer solstice, also known as the estival solstice or midsummer, is the longest day of the year. One of the earth’s poles has its maximum tilt toward the sun. For people in The Netherlands, it means a completely different life compared to the winter season.
In winter people stay inside because of the darkness and the cold and in summer everyone goes out. It seems like everyone wants to enjoy this season as long as possible, before the seasons change again.
I made a small list of things you can do this summer:
- Prepare a basket full of healthy vegan food, like beetroot wraps with hummus and lettuce, mango, sandwiches with peanut butter and cucumber. Bring some sparkling water and a cloth where you can sit. Enjoy a picnic with friends or family in your own garden, on the balcony or in the park.
- Go out for an evening walk. In winter it’s cold and dark in the evening, in this time of the year it stays light for a long time. Get your walking shoes and take a walk.
- Bring your laptop on your balcony or in the garden, make a cosy corner and enjoy a movie or series outside.
- Find a nice spot in a park and bring a book to read or a sketchbook with pencils to make some drawings.
- Make some time for early morning yoga. Finally you can do your yoga practice outside in your garden or on your balcony. Start before sunrise and enjoy a good start of your day.
- If you don’t like yoga, then choose an early morning walk. When people are still sleeping it’s still quiet on the roads. Be outside when the day starts and enjoy the connection with nature.
- Just play outside. Get a ball, your badminton set or a jumping rope. Just play like you did when you were a child. Nobody tells us we can’t do this when you are grown up right? Playful exercise is always good.
What about you? Do you like the summer season? And what do you like to do around this time of the year?
Jane Regina Sauer 