Carefree, peaceful, and slow summer days. July is quiet, both in nature and in my mind.

I often stay up late into the night and sleep in. In the mornings, I don’t accomplish much. I practice yoga, listen to audiobooks, or simply gaze at the sky.

And that is enough.

Last night, I set out on an evening bike ride with Papu. I just needed to go somewhere. Out of the house, even if only for a moment. I biked along the river northward, to a place I’ve often called my favorite.

It's easy to stop at the overgrown riverbank, where the last flowers of summer stretch their necks toward the bright evening sky. In the shallow water along the shore, the waterfowl chicks paddle behind their parents, their wings still unable to fly. They drift just a little further away from me, keeping a safe distance, but remain nearby, playfully competing with each other.

I leave my shoes under a birch tree and wander back and forth in the damp earth, aimlessly. Just for fun. Papu follows for a while until she realizes the pointlessness of it all and flops down on the wool sweater I left behind, watching my silly antics from a distance.

I breathe in the quiet of July, trying to imprint its scent and the warmth of the air in my memory. I try to store it somewhere deep in my mind, so that in a few months, I can retrieve it in a moment when warmth, sunlight, and the rich scent of flowers feel far away.

Have a wonderful July, let’s enjoy it and its fleeting moments.

♥ Sanna