Wild Love: #4
The glorious, syrupy heat of summer
Hello lovely,
A whole year of Wild Love already?! I’m so glad you’re here.
New here? Why not dive into last year’s summer prompts, too? You can find them here.
Wild Love is a place of deep community spirit, a place that flows with the seasons. Expect seasonal inspiration, mood boards, playlists, poetry and journaling prompts, and maybe even occasional video calls where we come together to write and inspire one another.
I often notice this sense of pressure in the summer months, not pressure on myself, but what I pick up from others. The days feel endless, light and warmth seeping into the evening, and there’s a feeling that we must grab onto every last second before the leaves begin to change. And before we know it, another summer has passed by, becoming yet another distant memory.
I believe in the endless possibilities of summer, when everything around us feels like taking a bite from the juiciest of peaches.
I relish and thrive in the summer, the syrupy, gooey heat of the season makes me want to slow down even further, not speed up (like we’re often told to).
Summer, the sweetest of all seasons, yet the one that feels drenched in the pressure to be constantly on the go. What if this year you had a boring girl summer? A version of summer where you allow time to unfold on its own and make its own decisions.
Now, I’m not saying cancel all your plans, nor am I telling you not to book that damn holiday you deserve so much. What I’m saying is, why not sit with time and befriend her, let her guide your day, and lean into dolce far niente?
Dolce far niente is an Italian phrase that translates to ‘the sweetness of doing nothing’. I use it often as a reminder to slow down and take pleasure in the small daily moments. A reminder to not rush, or be constantly on the go, because beauty and peace lie in the ordinary.
Last year, I read a post that has sat deeply within my soul ever since. Lauren Neufeld’s ‘boring girl summer’.
As Lauren says, ‘the romance of the mundane’ is a luxury to look forward to, something to cherish and relish in. If you do one thing this summer, be it to read Lauren’s post.
I loved the post so much that it inspired this poem.
As always, use the following prompts however you wish — allow them to call to your heart and let things flow.
Journal Prompts:
How does summer make you feel?
How can you slow down this summer and savour every drop?
How can you make summer a little sweeter this year?
Make a list of five slow summer activities you’d like to do (no pressure or judgement here).
Is there something about the summer that you find challenging? How can you soften into it with grace?
Is there a new hobby or craft you’d like to try this summer?
Poetry Prompts:
Syrupy heat
The summer I learnt to do nothing…
The sun and the shadows dance
Sipping sweet lemonade
The sweetness of doing nothing
A serendipitous season
Love Notes from the Wild: A Collective Showcase
This community inspires me so much, and I wouldn’t be able to keep sharing my words and inspirations without you! So what better way to say thank you than showcasing some of your work, too?
This month, we have a wonderful, bright collage that’s full of life!
Thank you
for sharing your work and inspiration behind the piece.Your Story — Your Point of View
“We are all creatures of convenience and circumstance. We find what suits us best to survive, and justify what we do to sustain. At the end of every day, we need stories to tell ourselves till we slip into deep slumber. In a larger scheme of things, each one of us has our own blinkered narrative. And we find proof to substantiate what we currently do and we have done.”
Want to be featured in the next edition? Feel free to drop me a message with your feature idea for consideration.
P.S. Don’t forget to share your poems from the prompts in the comments, I love reading your work!
Originally, my plan was to make Wild Love a paid segment, however, at this moment in time, I’m going to keep it free and open to everyone.
If you do feel pulled to support me further however, then why not consider upgrading to a paid subscription, or buy me a coffee here. Your kindness is the fuel that keeps me writing and sharing.