I will admit fall is my favorite season, but summer takes second place in the four-season weather lineup in Minnesota. Summer reminds me of freedom and running wild. As flowers are in full bloom and plants are thriving, I feel we, as people, are too.

In the mornings, the smell of sunscreen, fresh herbs, and vegetables from the garden hit the pan to collect in the folded blankets of omelets. The bursts of sunshine make their way through the sliding glass door, illuminating the pink roses in a quaint vase on the kitchen table.

Summer has an enticing way about it, calling us outdoors. It’s a time to explore our towns and take an extra minute to learn the fascinating stories of our local business owners, farmers, and merchants at the weekly summer markets. It’s time to discover new trails, beaches, state parks, and patio scenes with fantastic food and wine. To swim, walk, run, and climb higher heights, literally and figuratively. I often feel rigid in schedules, plans, and control; this season grabs me by the shoulders and shakes me back to ease, fun, and spontaneity. Summer is an adventure, and since it is so short in our state, I feel the urgency to grasp all it offers. A picnic basket filled with iced tea, pesto tomato mozzarella sandwiches, berries, and chocolates will fuel us during our expeditions.

As the weather turns from 84 and sunny to dark clouds and is followed by lightning at three pm, we are reminded to take breaks and slow down during this season. We feel the nudge to take our beach read inside, open the pages of our journals, light our sandalwood candles around the house, and wrap up in our summer throws. And maybe, if we are lucky, the storm will miss us, and we will end the day fireside with the sounds of crackling wood, crickets, bug spray spritzing, sizzling from the grill, and the laughs of the good company around us.

Instead of giving you seven things to do in summer to have a “perfect summer” per every other blog piece, I’ll leave you with some questions to journal and reflect on how you can relish this season this year.

• How can I make my surroundings and life feel lighter, fresh, and vibrant? Just the tip: Think about your spaces at home and work. Think about your routine and how you care for yourself. Think about your nourishment through food, what you drink, and your movement. What can you let go of that feels heavy?

• What simple pleasures can I take advantage of this season?

• What summer traditions do I want to make room for and prioritize this year?

• What is something new you'd like to try that can only be done in the warmer months?

• How can I bring the energy of fun, freedom, ease, and spontaneity into my days this summer? What is holding me back from claiming this energy, and what can I do to work around it so that summer can feel as carefree as it did when I was a kid?

• What are my intentions this season? How can I relish it?

Conversations in the Chair: Share your favorite ways to enjoy summer with me!

What are your favorite memories and traditions from the warmer, longer days?