Finding Joy in Simple Summer Pleasures

Family of four laughing together

“Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement…get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.”  
–Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel 

Kids understand “radical amazement” instinctively. They find joy in fireflies as well as fireworks. They find delight when splashing through a sprinkler or the ocean. They find happiness digging for worms or seeing elephants at the zoo. To them, every experience is awesome.

There’s a spirituality to living in the moment which is captured by the Hebrew word hineni (I am here). Summer offers many opportunities for simple pleasures for parents and children to enjoy together. Long days lend themselves to exploration and experiences. My kids and I have enjoyed visiting sunflower fields and picking blackberries; going to the beach and opening a lemonade stand; running for the ice cream truck and eating French fries on the boardwalk. As you engage in these and other activities with your children this summer, take the opportunity to say, “hineni,” to be truly present in the moment you are sharing.

Tune out the other distractions and ground yourselves by holding hands and breathing deeply. Feel a sense of gratitude for simple pleasures and take advantage of your time together. One idea to try is to find an open space to watch a sunrise or a sunset as a family. Focus on being present and appreciating the sensations of color and light. A sunset only lasts a few minutes, but the feeling will last much longer.

If you’d like more inspiration for summer family activities, check out the events and blog posts below or our Summer Fun Checklist. And as always, I welcome your ideas to share with other PJ Library families.

Warmly,
Sarah


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