Doesn’t it seem like summer always ends as quickly as it begins? Make a commitment this year to relish the moments that make summer so singularly refreshing.

It happens. Every. Single. Year. I get elated about the first day of summer, remembering the childhood magic of homemade ice cream, laps around the lake and the sound of rain thumping the ground as I played games on our screened-in porch. With hopes of summer feelings and freedoms, I enter the season with great expectations.

Now, I may be alone in this, but I’m pretty sure you know the drill. Suddenly I look at my calendar and realize (to my utter amazement) that every weekend has already been scheduled away, and I begin to wonder how and when I’m going to enjoy the outdoors and if I’ll get a moment to read a poolside book after work or squeeze in a hike or two or perhaps go camping and when, oh when did summer get so short?

I understand that adults don’t get a summer vacation, and while I’d gladly start a petition to accomplish as much, I’m committing to doing something a little more rational this summer, and I invite you to join me. I’m making a vow to pause and enjoy the moments that make summer entirely different from every other season.

I might give myself permission to read a book or Real Simple magazine on my back porch at night, when I can see lightning bugs dotting my backyard. Or perhaps I’ll lug ye olde ice cream maker out of the basement and invite the neighbors over. I’m also planning on taking a Saturday morning or two to visit Nashville’s wonderful farmer’s market for some fresh produce from local farmers.

What childhood memories made summer special to you? I encourage you to indulge yourself in a few activities this summer that remind you of those memories. Drive to a local lake and take a walk even if you can’t ski around it, make lemonade and sit outside for a bit, join a local pool and go after work. Whatever you do, don’t let summer slip past before you get to enjoy a bit of its relaxing charm.

While you and I may have infinitely more responsibilities than our 10-year-old selves, there’s a time for setting aside that to-do list, picking up the want-to-do list, blowing off the dust and putting a big fat check mark beside something that makes us feel happy. And I can’t think of a better time than summer.