Summertime Sadness — And How to Let the Light Back In
by Vittoria Marlone
The world tells us summer is for joy. The days stretch longer, the skies paint themselves in softer blues, and laughter echoes across beaches and rooftops. And yet, some summers don’t feel like sunshine. I am someone who can just be… sad. I wasn’t always this way, nor do I think the rain is forever.
Sometimes, despite the heat, there’s a quiet ache in the soul — a heaviness masked behind vacation photos and iced coffee. This is summertime sadness. It’s real. It’s often silent. And it can feel confusing when the world expects you to glow, but you feel dim inside.
Maybe it’s the loneliness that surfaces when the world seems in motion but you feel stuck. Maybe it’s the exhaustion from trying to “keep up.” Or maybe, just maybe, it’s your spirit whispering to slow down. To feel. To realign.
Here’s how we gently let the light back in:
1. Honor the Feeling
Sadness isn’t a betrayal of the season — it’s a message. Listen. Let yourself cry in the sun. Let the sweat and tears mix and know that healing is not seasonal. It is sacred. If you need to lay in bed, say no, or just literally rot- do it.
2. Create Stillness
In the rush of summer plans, carve a quiet moment. Lie on the grass. Let the wind speak to you. Turn your phone off and tune your soul in. Silence is not emptiness — it is where clarity blooms. It’s okay to take time for yourself when you need it. believe me.
3. Connect — Genuinely
You are not alone. So many are dancing in public while grieving in private. Call someone. Say, “I miss you.” Say, “I’m not okay.” Vulnerability is the antidote to the illusion of separation. I’ve even found peace in the hellos at the gym, banter in the coffee shop, before and after yoga class chats. These moments matter and help us too.
4. Do One Beautiful Thing a Day
Not for the ‘gram. For your soul. Read a book in the sun. Dip your toes in water. Water your plants. Reclaim the slow, sacred pleasures. This is your life — not a performance, but a prayer. It doesn’t have to cost a thing, just make you smile.
Final Whisper:
Summer does not require you to shine all the time. Some summers are for healing. Some are for shedding old skins. And some are for remembering who you are beneath the sun and sorrow alike. Keep going, with small steps and actions daily.
You are allowed to bloom in your own time.
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