Slow & Simple Moments | 06.25
As summer stretches ahead of us, it offers us a timely reminder to pause, to nurture and to nourish ourselves, so that just like the garden, in the fullness of time, we too may flourish.
Welcome to Rediscover · Reconnect · Re-Emerge. If you find the fleeting changes of modern life wearisome, maybe even overwhelming, join me on a journey, a path well-trodden, as I share heartfelt and often nostalgic reflections on living slowly, simply, and in tune with the seasons.
In this series, I share some of the things I’ve been getting up to, places I’ve been, and other beautiful and special slow and simple moments from the past month.
June, the month when the sun shone, and kept shining. Somehow, that warm haze which descends in early Summer, when the air is heavy and the evenings still, seems to sap our energy. Rather than re-energising us for the months to come, our brains feel foggy, our limbs lethargic, and our eyes tired. Of course, that might just be me, but I suspect I’m not alone.
The summer challenges us to find ways to slow down and to set a new pace. This in itself, isn’t always easy. Life comes with its own demands and commitments, yet the hot and humid weather demands of us a change in tempo. Somehow, it’s nature’s way of telling us to slow down, to move with intention, and to seek those calm, shady moments.
As the heat of the day begins to fade, we crave the still, cool evenings. Those moments when the world stands still, where we can heave a contented sigh after a long day, and perhaps pour ourselves a long, cold drink.
At the opposite end of the seasonal spectrum, winter too demands a slowing down and a change of pace. Perhaps our seasons have more in common than we might at first think? Just as midwinter can become busy, so can midsummer, and in case you missed it, in this new journal entry over on the A Life More Creative website, I shared 5 Gentle Midsummer Practices to Embrace the Season Slowly.
But perhaps the older I get, I realise that our four seasons, distinct as they are, can all too easily feel like merely dates on the calendar. Sometimes we think of living seasonally as adapting to each of these four seasons as they come. There is, of course, much value in that, but as I discover more and more, by tuning into the shifting rhythms of the natural world, its gentle ebb and flow, I can find a more intentional path through life.
We all experience those times when life itself feels heavy, when each step we take on the journey feels laboured and weighty. Just as the air outside feels heavy now, deep down, we know it won’t last. Perhaps our laboured steps won’t be relieved by a clap of thunder and bolt of lightning, but I truly believe that by seeking a slower and gentler approach to life’s journey, we might step forward with lightness. By living simply, by constantly reflecting on what truly matters to us, and by shedding those things which weigh us down, we can step forward gently, with intention. The path which stretches out before us may not always be easy, but by tuning into the gentle rhythms of the natural world, I believe we can feel more grounded and more aware.
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June 2025
As I have alluded to above, June has been a month of heat, of sunshine, of glorious colours, and almost unending growth outside. We concede that this has been one of the best years for the roses, and the peonies, as temperamental as they are, have thrived in the sunshine. As I type this, an email pings in: ‘Your Garden is Calling for Colour’, it exclaims. Ours is certainly full of colour, of every shade of pink and red; whites, yellows, purples, and every imaginable hue of green. No more is needed than that which nature offers abundantly.
Seeing the glorious colours of the garden and all the growth which abounds, is a beautiful reminder that none of this would be possible without the gentle tending, nurturing, watering, dead-heading, pruning, planting, and plethora of other nourishing tasks in the months and seasons before. As summer stretches ahead of us, it offers us a timely reminder to pause, to nurture and to nourish ourselves, so that in the fullness of time, we too may flourish.
Here are some of my slow and simple moments from June. I hope they might inspire and encourage you to seek out your own in the months to come.
Early-Summer Evenings
It has been such a privilege to be able to sit out in the garden late into the evening, enjoying the cooling air after a long, hot day. Somehow, the garden too breathes a sigh of relief. The birds, once excited with chatter, seem to flit calmly to and fro. In the dusky summer evenings, a bat or two flies overhead and the mice hurry out to play. It’s such a joy to watch the sunlight fade and the shadows of night fall over everything, lulling it to a peaceful slumber.
If, like us, you’ve found it too hot outside during the day, I wonder if you’ve enjoyed some cooling evenings sitting in the garden?
Summer Solstice
Last weekend marked the summer solstice, and right now, we wallow with glee in the long, light evenings, glorious sunrises, and hazy sunsets. I love this time of year because somehow, night has been squeezed into a small, liminal space, almost overwhelmed by day. There are still chinks of light at midnight, and by 3am, glimmers of day are beginning to appear. Somehow, night leaves before it never quite arrives. There is, inevitably, a lot of light pollution here, but I can imagine how amazing it must be to experience this in the open air, free of man-made light.
Have you stood and looked out of the window late at night, or perhaps early in the morning?
June Gardens
Not only has our small garden been beautiful and full of colour this month, we have also enjoyed the Erasmus Darwin Garden here in Lichfield, just a short walk from where we live. The Herb Garden is divided into distinct, but overlapping areas, and includes Mrs Darwin’s Culinary Garden, Dr Darwin’s Medicine Chest Garden, The Apothecary's Garden, The Dyer’s Garden, and The Scented Garden. What’s amazing is that every plant is labelled, with some of the garden being granted National Plant Collection status. It’s a beautiful, hidden place, and better still, it’s free, and open all year round, 24/7! If you’re ever in Lichfield, it’s well worth a visit (plus, you can come and see Clementine and I, which is a bonus…or maybe it’s the other way around?!)
Maybe you were at the Chelsea Flower Show, or perhaps you’ve been enjoying some other garden visits this summer?
I look forward to seeing which slow and simple moments July will bring. Why not let me know in the comments some of your special moments from the month of July.
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Such a great mouse photo! 🐁
I wrote about something similar in my latest newsletter. But I definitely think you put it better. Great work David, I loved reading it!