Episode #399 – This summer, let’s LIVE a little

This is episode 399 of the Brilliant Balance podcast. This summer, let’s live a little.

You know what I keep noticing this year? I think maybe my senses are particularly attuned to it as we’re approaching summer.

What I’m noticing is that so many women in my circle—especially those at midlife, kind of right around the season I’m in—are walking around like the lights are dimmed.

Not completely off. Not totally dark. We’re not depressed. It’s just like everything is on a dimmer switch. We’re getting through the day, checking all the boxes, doing everything that needs to be done. But the sparkle is gone. That spring in our step is missing.

That impulse to laugh out loud, or to take a deep, full-bodied exhale—it’s like we’ve forgotten what it feels like to actually feel good. Like, really, genuinely good.

And summer—of all times—should be when we remember. Not in a Pinterest-perfect, pressure-filled, “best summer ever” kind of way, but in the little things.

It’s not the elaborate vacation, though those are great when we get them. I’ll take one—anytime! It’s not even the family in matching outfits at the farmer’s market. It’s not that Pinterest-worthy kind of thing. It’s waking up and remembering what it feels like to be alive.

It’s putting on music while you get ready in the morning and dancing in the mirror. It’s buying something delicious at the farmer’s market and eating it right there. It’s sitting in the grass with your shoes off without checking your phone.

It’s being with someone who makes you laugh so hard your abs hurt. It’s those sensory things—those jolts of energy, pleasure, and beauty—that we used to have all the time.

That’s definitely what my childhood felt like. Probably a lot of early adulthood too. Then, somewhere along the way, we stopped letting those moments register.

Because we get so tired, so busy, and so responsible. I want this episode to be like flipping the breaker back on—a power surge straight to you.

You are allowed to feel good. Not only when everything on your list is done. Not only when you’re on vacation. Not only after everyone else’s needs have been met. Right now. You’re allowed to feel good.

So, think of this as your invitation.

Start paying attention again. Let it register when something feels delightful. Maybe even chase that feeling. Stop being so numbed out, and start tuning back in.

Today, we’ll talk about how to do that. Simple ways to turn the lights back on in your life—not through a self-improvement course or a heavy to-do list, but through a “more life per moment” kind of way.

We all deserve to feel good, especially this summer. We’re right on the brink of the season officially starting.

Check in with yourself. Does any of what I just said sound like you? Could I be describing you? Is life feeling a little gray? Like you have everything you thought you wanted, but your literal senses feel dimmed?

Maybe things don’t taste as good. They don’t smell as good. They don’t feel as good as you imagined they would. Everything just feels a bit flat, predictable, dutiful—maybe even overloaded.

You’re not in crisis. You’re just a little numb. And if you are, know this—I’ve felt that way a thousand times.

It’s not our fault. We’re the ones holding everything together. We’ve become efficient, serious, and responsible to be that person. And in the process, we’ve crushed that little light—our spirit, that childlike impulse that used to shine through.

So I want to make the case for feeling good again.

What if this summer wasn’t only about getting stuff done? I know I’ve got a long list of things I feel like I should do now that we’re out of the school-year rhythm.

All the projects for myself, for the kids, for my husband—they start looming.

But what if summer wasn’t about adding more to the list? What if it was about reawakening what’s already right under our noses?

Feeling good is not a luxury. It’s not a reward for finishing your list. It’s a signal that you’re alive.

And when you start feeling pleasure, delight, fun, and levity again—it spills over into everything.

Into our relationships. Into our work. Into our whole vibe.

You don’t have to blow up your whole life to access this. It’s already there.

It’s in micro moments—little jolts of aliveness waiting for you. A flicker of a smile. A deep belly laugh.

The smell of sunscreen. A song you forgot you loved. Bare feet in the grass. These are sensory moments that become your touchstone—your way back to being lighthearted on purpose.

Not accidental, and not hard. Just like tuning a radio to a better station. Remember turning a knob on a radio to get past the static? That’s what this is like.

This may sound like a simple invitation to “live a little,” but underneath, it’s something much deeper—something essential.

When we allow ourselves to feel delight, to pause in awe, to notice beauty, to laugh at something silly, we reconnect with the part of us that is most alive.

Not the doing part—but the being part. The one that knows how to experience a moment and soak it all in instead of rushing past it.

Psychologists call this “positive affect”—emotions like curiosity, contentment, interest, and amusement. And the science shows these emotions don’t just feel good—they actually fuel us.

They expand our thinking. They make us more creative. More resilient. More connected to others. They give us the capacity to keep going, even when hard moments sneak in.

Maybe spiritually, these moments remind us that life isn’t just a to-do list. We’re part of something bigger—something beautiful.

Children know this. They laugh, spin in circles, marvel at clouds without needing a reason. But we adults—especially high-achieving ones—lose touch with that part of ourselves. We get so serious, so focused, so responsible.

What we need is more light. We need relief from all that hard work. We need to remember what it feels like to feel good.

When I say “live a little,” I don’t mean escape your life. I mean go back to it—notice it with your eyes wide open.

To help us do this, here’s a fun idea: the Live a Little Challenge.

For the next seven days, do something light, fun, or easy—maybe even frivolous—that wakes you up from autopilot.

One little thing a day to spark delight. Nothing big. Just a small moment where you give yourself permission to live a little.

I’ll be sharing one tiny invitation each day on my Instagram account to help you.

You can play along quietly, or you can share what you’re doing publicly. If you do, tag me @cskolnicki and use the hashtag #LiveALittleChallenge.

I’ll repost some of your stories. And if you’re like me, you might think, “This sounds great, but I have no ideas.”

Not true. You have plenty of ideas. But here are a few to inspire you:

• Dance in your kitchen to a throwback song from high school.

• Take a hot shower with your best-smelling body wash. (Salt & Stone’s bergamot scent was divine.)

• Google a movie scene that always makes you laugh or cry—then watch it on purpose.

• Rearrange a corner of your home to make it prettier, cozier, or just more “you.”

• Wear something that makes you feel fabulous. Capital-F Fabulous.

• Say yes to the treat—the popsicle, the cupcake, the patio cocktail—just because.

• Wander a bookstore with no agenda. Or a favorite shop that makes you happy.

• Watch the sunrise or sunset, with nothing else on your mind.

• Compliment a stranger. Really mean it. Light them up.

None of this has to be monumental. Please don’t let this feel like work. Don’t make it another project.

This is meant to be easy—something that flows through your day.

There’s no time like the present. Summer has this wild, fleeting energy. We don’t get many summers.

And this isn’t about escaping. It’s about returning to what’s right in front of you. You don’t need permission. You don’t need to earn this. You get to enjoy your life—every day.

If your season feels a little gray, bring the color back. Laugh again. Go barefoot. Have the patio cocktail.

Let’s live a little together this summer.

All the prompts for the Live a Little Challenge will be on my Instagram @cskolnicki. Follow along. Tag me. Use #LiveALittleChallenge.

When others see what lights you up, they’ll be inspired to find what lights them up, too.

We’re doing this for seven days—starting today.

At the end of it, I hope you’ve gotten the lift you need to keep it going on your own, throughout the summer.

Share it with a friend. Invite someone else to live a little, too. Because there are so many of us who could use this reminder.

That’s all for today. Until next time, let’s be brilliant.