Keeping Your Inner Summer

So, here we are—August is slipping through our fingers, and now we have that little chill in the morning. The sun is packing up a little earlier every day, and soon we’ll be knee-deep in “Where did the light go?” season. It’s that weird time of year where everything feels like it’s almost something: not quite summer, not quite fall, just a slow fade.

And that fade can mess with you.

The long golden evenings turn into quick, grey exits. The bright morning light that made it easy to get out of bed starts hitting snooze. Everyone starts talking about pumpkin spice and cozy sweaters, but in reality—sometimes it feels more gloomy than cozy.

So here’s what I’ve been thinking about lately:

What if we kept our inner summer alive?

Not in the “I’m fine, everything’s fine ☀️✨” kind of way. I mean, in the “I still have warmth in me even when the sky looks like a wet paper towel” kind of way.

You know what I mean?

Summer isn’t just about beaches and daylight and tan lines. It’s a feeling. A softness. A sense of permission—to breathe a little deeper, to move a little slower, to be instead of constantly doing.

In other words, I don’t mean to pretend it’s July when it’s clearly sweater weather. I mean, holding onto the feeling of summer. The freedom. The warmth. The permission to be soft and wild and joyful.

That part.

But Keeping That Inner Summer? It’s Not Always Easy.

Some days, honestly, it just feels like too much.

You’re trying to keep up—work, laundry, the news, your own mental health—and the idea of “keeping some summer joy alive” feels like one more thing on the to-do list.

Like, great, now I’m supposed to be radiant while also figuring out dinner and why I’m suddenly so tired all the time?

I get it. That’s real.

But maybe keeping your inner summer doesn’t have to look like a whole thing.

Maybe it’s just remembering to do that one small thing that made you feel more like yourself back in July.

Like opening the windows and playing that one playlist that makes your chest loosen a little.

Lighting a candle that smells like sunscreen and coconut.

Drinking your morning coffee outside, even if it’s a little chilly.

Wearing something that feels like “you”, even if no one’s going to see you that day.

It doesn’t have to be huge.

It doesn’t have to be aesthetic.

It just has to be true.

Because the truth is, as the world starts speeding back up again—back-to-school, back-to-work, back to the grind—it’s really easy to lose the softness you had over the summer.

That version of you who wasn’t rushing all the time.

The one who had space to pause, who let joy in without needing a reason.

And maybe we can’t live like it’s summer every day.

But we can choose not to fully surrender to the hustle.

We can protect the parts of us that felt more open, more connected, more alive.

Remember How You Felt in July?

In summer, you probably said “yes” a little more—staying out past sunset, slowing down just enough to soak it all in.

Maybe you made a spontaneous plan to go tubing in the lake with a cooler in your hand (blueberry flavour), chased the sunset on a long drive down roads that weren’t slick with rain yet, or raised a glass at a wine tasting just because it felt good to be out, present, and a little more you again.

Maybe you even danced at that BBQ party in your friend's backyard without any worry.

Maybe you finally exhaled after holding your breath all year.

You felt alive—even with all the chaos around you.

Now the days are getting darker—and that’s okay. It’s natural.

But don’t let yourself dim along with the fading light.

Because that light is yours—it’s not controlled by the weather, the calendar, or what’s happening around you.

It’s there to remind you that no matter how heavy things feel, joy and warmth can still live inside.

So when the world feels cold, lean into your inner summer.

Take a breath, be gentle with yourself, and keep that flame alive.

You’re Allowed to Glow

Even when the days get dark.

Especially then.

But you’ve got that little inner sun. It doesn’t run on the same schedule.

Feed it. Protect it. It’s yours to keep—bright, gentle, and steady.

Because joy isn’t something that fades with the seasons.

It’s something sacred, something you hold deep inside.

So here’s what I want you to do:

Give yourself permission to keep that inner summer alive.

Let it burn quietly, fiercely, in your own time and way.

And if it ever feels like it’s slipping away, come back here.

I’ll remind you—your light is real.

Your glow is yours. Always.