This summer, I don’t want to rush

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This summer, I don’t want to rush. I want to laugh a little louder, move a little slower and allow myself the space to simply enjoy.

I’m looking forward to mornings that start slower and evenings that stretch a little longer. Warm breezes moving through palm trees. Music playing with the windows down. Sunsets that remind me not everything has to be urgent. I want this summer to feel light, not because life suddenly became perfect but because I’ve decided to carry it differently.

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Some of my favorite memories of summer remind me that life was never supposed to feel this rushed all the time. I think about growing up and seeing sun tea brewing on the porch for hours while the day moved slowly. Family trips to the beach, stopping at the surf shop on the way there and before heading back home. Waking up early to go swimming with my family and spending days at the mall and outlet stores with my mom and friends. Summer felt simple then. Full of laughter, water, music and freedom.

Now, as adults, the memories look a little different but somehow feel the same at the core. Beach trips with friends. Boat rides with music echoing over the water. Last-minute road trips where everyone is singing songs from the top of their lungs like we’re the only people on the highway. Random adventures that turn into the stories we talk about for years. There’s still something about summertime that whispers, Adventure awaits.

As women, I think we’ve grown so accustomed to urgency. Constantly moving. Constantly planning. Constantly pouring. We rush from responsibility to responsibility, milestone to milestone, always feeling like we’re behind something or racing toward something. But honestly…what are we rushing for? Life is happening while we’re hurrying through it. This summer, I want to remind myself that slowing down is not laziness. Rest is not failure. Ease is not weakness. We deserve softness, too.

I’m excited about getting away, even if it’s just for a weekend. Exploring different cities, finding little restaurants with good food and even better ambiance, sitting outside under string lights, talking for hours with friends. I want rooftop dinners, spontaneous flights, and moments that don’t need to be posted to still feel meaningful.

More than anything, I’m looking forward to being present with the people I love. Random video calls turning into plans. Long conversations. Celebrating life while we’re living it. Sometimes we move through the year carrying responsibilities so heavily that we forget joy deserves room, too.

And somewhere in the middle of all of it, the concert lineups are rolling out. (Who’s going to see Usher and Chris Brown? Me.) The group chats will get active, the outfit planning will begin, and, suddenly, there’s another reason to look forward to the weekends. There’s something about concerts that always feels nostalgic before they even happen. The anticipation, the energy, the lights—it feels like freedom.

This summer, I want ease. I want memories. I want moments that feel soft and full at the same time. Not every season has to be about survival or proving something. Some seasons are simply meant to be enjoyed.

Ursula James is a multimedia journalist and communications strategist working with sports teams, public figures, universities and non-profits. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from Florida A&M University, and she is the AVP for Marketing & Communications at Virginia Union University. Ursula enjoys fashion, laughing with friends and family, serving her community, and exploring new territory.