The Summer of Simple Pleasures: Embrace an Intentional Summer

Somewhere along the way, summer became a season of hustle. Packed itineraries. Theme parks. Bucket lists.

The constant pressure to make the most of every minute.

But what if this year looked a little different?

What if we let summer be slower?

Not lazy.

Not boring.

Just... less chaotic.

Less scripted.

More meaningful.

We just got back from Arizona, and one of the moments that stuck with me the most wasn’t anything flashy. It wasn’t a big attraction or a perfectly timed photo.

It was watching my boys walk through Antelope Canyon, listening to a young Navajo guide talk about his culture, his family, and the connection they share with the land. He spoke with quiet confidence and so much heart. And my boys stood still. Still.

That moment reminded me: this is why we travel. This is why we say yes to the road trips, the dusty shoes, the early alarms for sunrise.

Not for the crowds or the schedules, but for moments of connection. Of understanding. Of being right there.

And that’s what I’m chasing this summer.

Not the thrill rides or fast passes. Not the five-things-before-noon kind of days.

Just simple pleasures. The ones that linger long after you’ve unpacked your bag.

10 Simple Pleasures to Chase This Summer

Let’s Bring Back the Porch

I saw something recently that stuck with me — a post about “front porch culture.” How before air conditioning, and before everyone retreated indoors to their TVs and phones, people sat outside.

They waved to neighbors. They told stories. They simply existed in community, in the open air, in the rhythm of the day.

That’s what I want more of.Not just a porch with cute furniture — but a space that invites slowness.A space that holds the ordinary magic of summer nights.

It doesn’t matter if that porch is a wide wraparound on an Airbnb in the woods or a set of creaky steps outside your own front door. What matters is that we use it. That we let ourselves be still. That we show up, sit down, and let the good stuff find us.

Because the best memories don’t come from rushing.They come from resting. From laughing over dinner. From watching your kids explore. From listening to stories from someone you just met in the desert. From porch wine, shared glances, and early mornings with nowhere to be.

The summer of simple pleasures is coming right up. Let’s not miss it.