How I long for those carefree summer days,
when the world felt softer, slower, and full of wonder.
When mornings smelled like fresh-cut grass,
and sunlight spilled through the trees like gold.
When laughter came without effort,
time didn’t rush,
and the only thing on our minds
was how to make the most of the light.

I miss the way everything felt infinite,
and how we didn’t yet understand
how precious that kind of freedom really was.

Back then, joy was simple.
I remember the warmth of the sun on my skin,
the scent of wildflowers in the breeze,
and the way the sky turned golden just before dusk,
as if the day itself was reluctant to say goodbye.

Maybe we can’t return to those exact moments,
but maybe, in remembering,
we can create those simple, carefree days once more:
by slowing down,
by savoring what’s in front of us,
by laughing without reason,
and by holding close the people
who make us feel like home.

~ ‘Those Carefree Summer Days’ by Spirit of a Hippie

~ Art by Stephanie Lambourne