Why isn’t the summer slowdown bringing me happiness? 

The summer slowdown brings us heat on the skin, cool drinks and long days. Rest literally feels like it soaks into you. Ahhhh!  All of this self-care and relaxation seems like the perfect time for happiness to rise up like fluttering wings in the heart.

But often it doesn’t. Disappointing? Confusing? Maybe not! 

Summer may be on the opposite side of winter on the calendar, but they are not on the opposite sides of the emotional spectrum. Both summer slowdown and winter hibernation brings forth emotional states like “relaxed” and “soothed”. They are built for grounding and feeling.  According to Karla McLaren in The Language of Emotions, none of these are emotional states that coincide with happiness. Instead, these are all nuances of sadness.  

Now wait just one minute.

I know, but this is not your ordinary type of sadness. Summer slowdown brings us the type of sadness that softens us, not the type