Seasonal Creative Living - Summer 🌞

Exploring how nature can influence life and work

Jun 28, 2024

For 2024, I’m setting intentions to both cultivate seasonal observations and define points of practice for my life and work throughout the year.

This year I’ve felt called to explore what it means to connect with seasonal living and allow nature to influence my creative practices. If you missed my first seasonal post on Spring, you can read more about where this originated from.

SUMMER SEASON

We are saying hello to the summer season in the northern hemisphere. I’m digging in deeper to what the season of summer reveals to us in its offerings:

1. Summer shows us jollification.

🧐 The observation: Isn’t that a fantastic word - jollification!? There are so many joyful activities and experiences to be had in the summertime. It is a season ripe for immersion into the world. Whether planning vacations, parties, get-togethers, or creative practices, follow the fun. Did you hear about the San Francisco cake party that drew hundreds to the park just to share sweets!? This is my kind of event (I actually hosted a pastry potluck in the park for my birthday a few years back).

🌞 The practice:

I’m planning a coastal road-trip (Point Reyes, Tamales, Bodega) for an upcoming family visit
I’m calling in all drive-in theater vibes as I imagine hosting a backyard movie night with my new projector and popcorn machine. I’ve been very inspired by the creative genius of Calia Booth, whose newsletter Library Booth, “Captures the essence of our favorite literature through an imaginary dinner party setting.”

2. Summer shows us how to shine.

🧐 The observation: Summer is the most extroverted of the seasons. Everyone wants to be out dancing in the moonlight. I myself am not a ‘summer’, not extroverted, but this bright light energy is giving me a bit of added confidence to share more openly, connect with others, and be okay with being seen. It can be a great time to talk about what you’re working on with the world, find collaborators, and share in collective joys.

🌞 The practice:

I’ve been showing up more, here on the newsletter and on LinkedIn, continuing to try to be courageous and bold when it comes to sharing (even if things feel far from perfect).
This summer I’ll be releasing a rebrand, rebirth, re-envisioning of Huzzah Studio! I’m so excited for the new site to step into the light, thanks to an amazing collaborative partner SOIRÉE Studio.
What can you share with your friends, supporters, this community about what you’ve been working on and what you’re excited about this summer?

3. Summer shows us ease.

🧐 The observation: Even when summer is full and active and blaring at the very same time it is also ease. It’s the lazy and hazy bits of the song title “Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer”. Summer shows us ease with longer days that we can linger in. Time slows just enough to enjoy sunset walks and the stillness that the heat holds for us. After an energetic spring season, I need this pause. In spring I set the intention of taking a summer sabbatical and worked towards making that happen for the month of July. This is a privilege that I don’t take for granted. I’m so grateful for the flexibility and freedom to replenish my creative juices and re-energize for the second half of the year.

🌞 The practice:

July sabbatical! I’ll be pausing on client work for the month of July to experience more ease.
My sabbatical wishlist includes: teaching the next cohort of my Designing Your Freelance Business course, revisiting/catching up on recordings of recent workshops, visiting my favorite cafes, wonder walks, picking back up with my current read (Your Brain on Art), finishing my studio website redesign, farmers market days, sitting outside, and maybe just doing nothing at all (and being okay with it).
What would working less in the summer look like for you? Summer Fridays perhaps? A few weeks off for a summer vacation?

Summer is a favorite season for many, I’m curious to hear if any of this resonates with what you’ve been feeling and experiencing as we shift seasons. If you are also called to put seasonal living into practice I’d of course be thrilled to connect!