Chasing the Sunset: Holding on to Joy as Summer Fades
By Kristen D’Amico
As the daylight hours dwindle and the crowds on the beach pack up to leave, we find ourselves reminiscing on yet another happy summer. If only we could bottle up that joy and carry it with us into the fall and winter months ahead.
But consider this: Happiness is not a season or a place, a person or a circumstance. Happiness is a state of mind, one you can cultivate and carry with you throughout the year, wherever you go. The warmth of summer may fade, but the joy we choose to nurture within us can last through all seasons of life.
Perhaps you have a friend or loved one who always seems happy, and you wonder how, or even why, they maintain it. To have a happy disposition and a positive outlook on life is not simply a circumstance or how one is wired, but rather a series of choices one makes and a mindset they maintain. Positivity is a muscle, one that is exercised and strengthened over time. Yes, people work to be happy. But why?
For one, it simply feels good. Biologically, experiencing happiness releases dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. These “feel good” chemicals reduce stress and pain while promoting calm, desire, and motivation. Beyond that, happiness has been scientifically proven to increase longevity, protect against cognitive decline, and support your immune health. In other words, choosing happiness is not just good for the soul, it’s good for the body, too.
For many of us, it’s easy to be happy in the summer. We have more sunshine and time spent outdoors, more vacations and time with loved ones, more live music and outdoor entertainment. It often feels like summer and happiness go hand in hand. And as we transition into fall, as night comes sooner and we settle back into our typical routines, that happiness can remain. Here are some tips to keep your joy year-round:
Practice gratitude. Look around and count your blessings, the things you can be thankful for even on your hardest days. The other morning, as I was making my coffee, I glanced out my kitchen window and was struck by how beautiful the scene was. I actually picked up my phone and snapped a picture to remember the moment. That view was nothing new, usually just something in my peripheral vision as I rush through my morning tasks. But when I took a moment to look out the window with a present mind and a grateful heart, it filled me with a happiness I hadn’t felt in that ordinary moment before. I challenge you to find beauty in the seemingly mundane, joy in the routine, and gratitude in what might otherwise feel too small to notice.
Practice kindness. Spreading joy and kindness not only brings happiness to those around you, it brings happiness to you as well. This can range from large acts, like giving your time or resources to support those around you; to small ones, like holding a door open for someone or offering a compliment. Even a simple hello with a smile can make someone’s day, and yours in return.
Set goals for yourself. Happy people wake up with purpose, and it’s much easier to find purpose in each day when you have a goal you’re working toward. Setting achievable goals with clear objectives helps you stay motivated and focused, and it improves your mood along the way. Each step forward brings a sense of accomplishment.
Nurture your relationships. Remember, we are social beings, and we thrive on connection. Loneliness and isolation are so harmful that their health risks are comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Happy people cultivate deep, meaningful, and authentic relationships with their loved ones, and they make a point to nurture those relationships on a regular basis.
The sun may be setting on your summer, but not on your joy. Embrace all the beauty and blessings around you, spread love and kindness, and stay motivated. May your smiles continue to be abundant in the cooler months ahead.