Never is it easier to
experience feelings of unvanquishable strength, of magnetic confidence,
of barbaric rage, of demonic lust, of ecstatic joy than at the height of
summer. The following habits have helped me stoke these feelings:
Sun
Each year around March or April there is a day when, for the first time
after a long winter, I get a lot of sun on my skin. It may even be a
sunburn, and in the evening I fall into bed, deeply tired. But the next
day, or the day after, my face still red, I feel a tremendous energy
surge in my body. Suddenly, everything seems possible, and I want to run
and work and fuck and do something, anything, and if I don’t do enough,
I will need to dissipate excess energy by roaring in the forest like an
animal.
Then come the days when the sun is out for days and weeks on end. You will hear people complain about the heat, and see them seek refuge in the shade. Resist this urge and bask in the high midsummer sun for an hour. If you can, everyday, as naked as possible. On the weekends, and in the evening, spend more time outside. After a while, you will realise that your energy has increased and that your winter self was merely a pale reflection of the new, glorious, sun-powered you.
Focus
Instead of working long hours, getting distracted and tired and not
achieving much after all, how about fewer hours of truly productive
work, followed by rest? One day I sat at work in the afternoon, and I
suddenly realised that I am not able to focus, my body was stiff and my
mind clinging to all kinds of distraction. I packed my stuff, walked
home and then took a long nap in the afternoon sun, wrote in my diary
and read. Two hours later, I was completely refreshed and felt a rush of
confidence and joy flooding my body. When it is not possible to go home,
a 15 minute nap on or under the desk can be enough to restore the energy
and have a productive afternoon.
To complement the increased rest, tone down habitual distractions. A walk, for example, is restful only if the thoughts are unencumbered by constant stimulation from headphones. It was a lucky coincidence that my headphones broke early this summer. I haven’t replaced them.
People
Social habits are hard to break. But if there is ever a good time, it is
when bright sunlight, warmth and the spring hormones have improved the
social atmosphere. This summer, I talked to more strangers than ever
before, and as a consequence my appreciation of people, and the richness
of life has grown.
I would advise to talk even to people who might not seem like they share your perspective on or path in life. To give a few examples: I have felt repelled by the chavs that inhabit the town where I live. Recently, I’ve been to one of their favourite pubs and, without numbing myself with alcohol, talked to loads of them. We haven’t become best friends, but I had a good time. I’ve also started to interact more with people in shops. Who knew that you could meet a bird photographer in Tesco, and have a flirt in Aldi.
Milk
Have you ever had raw milk from free-range cows? I found a farm that
sells raw Jersey milk, and I was shocked by how amazing it tastes. It
has a yellowish tint and has more fat than regular milk. As you drink
it, you can feel that this is the elixir of the gods, the essence of
life – this amazing liquid alone can build a calf or a human.
Swim
Few moments are more glorious than when you come out of the water after
a swim in a river, lake or the sea. As the water falls in golden drops
off your skin and you start to feel the warming sun rays, your blood
rushes through your body and you flex your arms and shoulders to feel
the strength that has propelled you through the water moments ago. Long
after you’ve dried, you’re soaked with a calm, life-affirming
confidence.