I know I always say this, but I really mean it this time. Today is my favorite day of the year. Today is summer solstice! I’ve always been quick to fall in love with things. Maybe that’s why I romanticize all the ordinary parts of life. The changing seasons, a good cup of coffee, a pretty sunset. The list goes on. But summer solstice has been my very favorite day for as long as I can remember.

Why’s that? I don’t really have a specific reason. I’ve just always been drawn to the day and what it represents. We experience more sunlight than any other day of the year on the solstice, and that alone is worth celebrating. It’s also the longest day of the year, and I’ve always gone out of my way to make the most of it. 

When I lived in Michigan, where there is no scarcity of nature, I went on long hikes with our family dog. Kody is such a good boy that he doesn’t need a leash, even in the middle of the woods. His golden fur was always easy to spot against the deep green of the trees. He never strayed too far from the trail. I think we both enjoyed the freedom. 

When I lived in New York City, where nature is a little harder to find, I still practiced my annual ritual. One beautiful thing about the big city is its incredible parks. Believe it or not, there are lots of trees there! I was fortunate to always live close to a body of water, and spent many a solstice on a picnic blanket staring out at the East River. It’s a little harder to find solitude there, but people watching can be just as fun. 

This year, I’ve been outside in the garden all day. It’s a little late to be planting a garden…but the veggies still grow and I’ve always enjoyed digging around in the dirt. The gentle breeze and rustling leaves overhead remind me how small my stresses are. Wherever you are, there’s something uniquely grounding about being outside in the quiet of a summer day.

My celebration has looked different throughout the years. But the common thread has always been making an active attempt to get outside and connect with nature. I’d really recommend doing that every other day of the year too, but if you need an excuse to start…today’s the day!

Well. I’m going to keep it short and sweet. Hopefully this little ode to sunshine has inspired you to get up and get out there. I’m going to do my best to soak up all the solstice sun before it sets. If you’re getting a late start, don’t worry. There’s still plenty of time to enjoy the extra daylight. That’s the real gift of summer solstice. There’s a whole beautiful world out there worth celebrating, and today especially, I hope we can all go chase it.