The Perfect Summer Morning

A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth's eye, looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature. —Henry David Thoreau

After a week of 90+ degree heat and stifling humidity, this morning ushered in noticeably cooler temperatures accompanied by gentle breezes and lower humidity. As far as I’m concerned, this is summer at its finest!

I chose to embrace this beautiful morning by grabbing a donut and iced latte from my favorite local donut and local coffee shop and head down to the lake front to enjoy my breakfast.

I am blessed to live so close to such an awesome body of water. There is something so very calming and peaceful sitting and just being at the lake.

This little park along Lake Erie has been my sanctuary for years. It helped me get through the rough and challenging days when I was caring for my terminally ill parents. It’s where I grieved and cried after the loss of my husband. It’s where I took early morning walks to energize and ground me before starting my workday and where I took evening strolls for much needed stress relief after a long day sitting in front of the computer.

There’s something about open water and wide skies that makes even the heaviest of worries feel a little lighter. The lake has borne witness to both my tears and my laughter—and somehow, it always offers what I need most.

Now that I’m retired, I come to the lake to read and/or write or just sit in stillness listening to the waves gently lapping against the shore.

Summer slips by faster than we realize (tomorrow marks the last day of June already!). So, I gently encourage you to carve out a few minutes—whether it’s by a lake, under a shady tree, or on your front porch swing—to pause, breathe, and savor this sunlit season while it’s here.