Where Did the Summer Go? The Practice of Being Present
I can’t be the only one glancing at the calendar and wondering where the summer went. For some of us, we spend the cold winter waiting for the first blooms of spring, and then spring waiting for the warm sun of summer. When summer finally arrives, our days quickly fill with work, friends, vacations, plans, and everything in between. And somehow, we’re already approaching fall. It makes me wonder: How much of our lives do we spend waiting for the next part instead of noticing the part we’re actually in?
As many of my blog posts may suggest, I’ve found mindfulness to be a helpful tool for staying present and finding meaning in the little moments. For me, and for many others, mindfulness can help us notice when our minds are wandering unproductively and gently bring our attention back to what is happening right in front of us. In fact, a 2010 Harvard study found that participants’ minds wandered from what they were currently doing 46.9% of the time, and that this mind-wandering was associated with decreased happiness. And this was before the era of constantly scrolling through social media and having endless distractions at our fingertips—I can only imagine how relevant those findings might be today!
Remember, remaining present doesn’t mean never thinking about the future, ignoring responsibilities, never reflecting on the past, or pretending everything is okay. Instead, it’s about learning to recognize when our thinking is helpful and when it has shifted into rumination or constant worry. Planning asks, “What can I do?” Worry and rumination ask, “What if?” over and over again.
The goal is to come back to right where your feet are planted: right here, in the present moment. What can you see? What can you feel, hear, or smell? Feeling your feet against the ground, stretching your body, or taking a slow, deep breath can all be simple ways to remind yourself where you are—right here and now.
I think there can also be a certain pressure that comes with realizing summer is almost over. Did I do enough? Did I spend enough time with family or friends? Did I make the most of it? Am I prepared enough for school or work to start again or ramp up as fall begins? Before we know it, even being present can become another thing we feel like we need to accomplish.
But you don’t have to “accomplish” being present. You don’t need to perfectly appreciate every moment, nor do you have to get stuck in a constant cycle of self-criticism or worry about whether you’re doing enough. Instead, simply practice noticing when your mind has wandered somewhere else and, when you can, gently bring your attention back to what is happening right in front of you.
Another season will come. There will always be something next to plan for, worry about, or look forward to. But before summer ends, maybe the goal isn’t to squeeze more out of it. Maybe it’s simply to notice that you’re still here.
Be where your feet are. Your life is happening there.
