Maybe this summer is just… okay

July 8th – The breeze is warm but I'm not. And that's okay. 

Every summer, there's this silent pressure. To feel free. To feel alive. To feel something.

We carry expectations like sunhats, soft on the surface, heavy without warning. Summer is supposed to be light. And if you don't feel that lightness, it's easy to think something is wrong with you.

I've felt it too. The guilt of not blooming in July. The weight of wondering, "Why can't I just enjoy this?" But maybe the truth is this: Not every summer has to be magical. Not every season has to be your season. This summer might just be… okay. And that's already something.

Because emotional self-love is also this; letting yourself have a quiet season without demanding more. Not forcing a mood. Not pretending to shine.

Maybe this is the summer where I don't thrive. Maybe I just breathe. Maybe I just exist. 

And still, I am worthy. This isn't a failure. It's a gentle surrender. I'm learning to accept this version of me, too. The one who doesn't run into the waves or plan picnics or sparkle on command. The one who's just… here. This is still self-love. This is still a life.

If you feel like this too, like summer isn't matching your mood, you're not alone. You're not broken. You're not behind. You don't need to catch up with anyone else's energy. You don't need to force joy or curate sunshine.

This season can be quiet. It can be tender. It can be yours, even if it looks different than you thought. You're allowed to have a slow summer. You're allowed to not bloom.

This might be the summer of softness, of staying home, of skipping the fireworks and listening to your own breath. And that, too, is sacred.

For more soft reflections and gentle summer moments, you're warmly welcome to follow along on Instagram @selflavie. Where summer doesn't have to be perfect to be meaningful.

Soft hugs,
Selflavie