Summer Gratitude

Little Things to Be Grateful for in the Summer

Some days, life is a lot. The to-do list is long, the house is loud, and dinner still isn't made. But sometimes, in the middle of all that chaos, there’s a little moment that reminds you life isn’t all bad. Maybe it’s the smell of freshly cut grass. Or a bite of cold watermelon after being outside too long. Or the way your kid’s face lights up when they see fireflies for the first time.

That’s gratitude—and it doesn’t have to be big or fancy. It can be small and quiet and still shift your whole day.

Summer makes it a little easier, doesn’t it? The sun stays out longer. The parks are greener. You can drive around with the windows down and feel that warm breeze hit your skin. Maybe you stop by the local ice cream stand after dinner, or you make sweet corn on the grill and feel like a genius for doing something so simple and good.

Gratitude helps us feel more grounded, more present, and a little less stuck in our stress. It doesn’t make the hard stuff go away, but it gives our brains something else to focus on—something softer.

So here’s to the little things this summer:

• Iced tea on the porch

• Bare feet in the grass

• Your favorite sunglasses

• Dipping into a nice body of water

• Corn on the cob with too much butter

• Fireflies blinking like tiny miracles

• Melty ice cream on a hot day

• Live music and hot, humid air

• Trails that smell like pine and dirt and sunshine

Take a second to notice them. Let them sink in. Gratitude doesn’t have to be deep or serious—it just has to be real.

With sun-warmed appreciation,
Katrin
Therapist, mom, lover of secondhand treasures and summer nights