Tuning Out, Turning In
From now until Labor Day don’t count the weeks, make the weeks count.
First and foremost, this is not my beautiful house. I passed by it on the 4th while out walking Bell Island in Rowayton, CT and although there are a number of much larger, fancier homes around it, the charm of the weathered street level porch is unbeatable. There are plenty of chairs for family, friends and I have to imagine a good deal of interlopers that just happen to be passing by when the refreshments come out. Independence Day in America is many things to many people and I believe that’s how it should be. It’s a durable, flexible, and sensible holiday. For as commercialized and ridiculous as it can be, it’s also authentic and serious. Why not have it be a day of both joyous celebration and solemn reflection? In my adolescence it was certainly dominated by the former, but in recent years, the latter has become much more prevalent.
Generally I end up thinking about the places I’ve been on the 4th (France, Lake Tahoe, Aspen, Vermont, Martha’s Vineyard to name a few) and the people I was sharing the day with. I’ll usually drop them a message, maybe catch up on the phone if we’ve got the time. The proximity to the actual halfway point on the calendar always made the 4th seem like a fitting counterpart to New Years Day in that it’s a good time to check in with people, as well as check in with yourself. Do both and you’ve strengthened your community. If there is any aspect of the 4th I could single out as being most important, it would be that. A strong sense of community is essential to individual well-being and individual well-being is the bedrock of a strong community. A healthy society is composed of strong communities and it doesn’t exactly take a keen-eye to observe that America is worryingly fractured. With that in mind, I’ll quote the perpetually insightful Prof. Scott Galloway in saying “there’s nothing wrong with America that can’t be fixed by what’s right with America.” I really do believe that too. I’ve seen enough people come together for a common good in my lifetime to understand the uniqueness of the American experiment in world history, as well as the fact that it very much continues to be an experiment, as was intended by the framers of our constitution.
So, while things may seem bleak on a national scale, bring your view down to a regional or local level and they get brighter. This is what I’m referring to when I talk about “tuning out”. I do my best not to worry about the things I can’t control all year, but unnecessary stress is especially unwelcome during the precious summer months. This is the time for leisure, for recharging, for reflection. That’s what I’m referring to when I talk about “turning inward”. To be clear I’m not advocating for burying your head in the sand on the big issues or having a “hot Thoreau summer” all on your lonesome out in the woods. Just, you know, take a step back. Consider hiding the news and social media apps on your phone if you’re not up for deleting them entirely. Turn off push notifications for all but the really important stuff and make sure to be honest about what’s really important. Maybe hold off on watching the latest shows (they’ll be there when the weather eventually turns foul) and take advantage of every bit of light that hangs around in the sky this time of year. Find the things that work for you, implement them as best you can, and I think you’ll find the seasons stretches out more like it did when we were kids. If that isn’t the core of an enjoyable summer, I don’t know what is. Best of all, lessons learned over the next couple of months can be implemented year ‘round and in perpetuity, because after all summer isn’t just a season, it’s also a state of mind. To help get you there anytime, I recommend the following things.
Fleet Foxes, Live on Boston Harbor- I thoroughly enjoy a live album anytime, but in the car with the windows down or on the patio with a cold drink in hand, the experience is elevated to say the least.
Todd Snyder Oxford Popover- Ya gotta love a good ‘ol summer sale while summer is just getting into full swing. While there’s plenty to be scooped up from the TS website right now, this Oxford Popover in white or blue is a truly great addition to one’s warm weather wardrobe.
Buck Mason 6” Deck Short- I generally avoid shorts for a number of reasons, but when conditions call for them, I swear by these in any color.
Rivay Airways Hat- The washed cotton twill snapback that you’ve been searching for. My other “dad hats” are dead to me now.
Bicicletta Spritz- Club soda, dry white wine, red bitter aperitivo. Pour in that order, no need to stir. I like to add pitted green olives, just because.
Enjoy!
-AM
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