Summer in Slow Motion: The Art of Noticing

In the before times, pre-COVID, when my kids were small, before my mom died, I was a frantic madwoman. There never felt like enough time in the day to check everything off my list. That’s what I kept telling myself, anyway. The invisible mental load was physically back-breaking. It felt like I was doing everything and failing at most, always angry, scattered, and burnt to a crisp.

Hi, my name is Michelle Anderson, and I am a reformed rusher.

My recovery began after Lauren staged a full-on intervention to save me from myself. When you mix a speedy ADHD brain with an energetic makeup designed to churn and burn, and slowness isn’t part of the recipe, burnout becomes the main attraction in your personal shit show.

The good news is I’m in recovery, and now, alongside my sister, we preach slowness. We’ve practically become priestesses of slow living around here. You’ve heard these words before. Our mantra is simple:

Slow Down
Care Less
Do Nothing

I remember past summers when, if someone had muttered our mantra, I would have laughed in their face or maybe even punched it. Today, I’m all in, firm, and dedicated to making those six words part of everyone’s lifestyle. What we preach is actual medicine. It’s the cure to feeling like everything in life goes by unnoticed, which is where the juicy, good bits of living lie.

Now I know that when you intentionally make space, no matter what season of life you’re in, by putting down the phone, savoring that first sip of coffee, and choosing one unhurried moment, the floodgates open. You start noticing life in ways you never thought possible.

And I want this for you. You have to have it.

This summer, I challenge you to slow down, really slow down, so you can start to notice the little things you’d normally let pass by. In the name of slowness, let’s dive into the art of noticing this summer. Sound good?

The Science of Noticing

If you need more convincing, consider these benefits of deliberately shifting your attention to small sensory or emotional details (simple pleasures):

Stress and Anxiety Reduction: Taking even a single minute to pause and notice your surroundings can quietly lower your cortisol levels, and your shoulders begin to drop.
Boosted Cognitive Function: When you train your brain to notice tiny details, like the way sunlight filters through leaves, you actually strengthen neural pathways tied to attention and memory.
Improved Relationships: Noticing a small act of kindness, whether you receive it or offer it, sets you up for deeper connection. Spotting that smile or that moment of help fosters gratitude and better communication.

Ideas to Help You Notice More This Summer

1. Savor Your Breakfast Outside
Make your meal, then step outside and sit while you eat. What do you see? What do you hear? Maybe the rabbits are enjoying their breakfast, too. Has the dew evaporated yet? Take note. Reflect. Rinse and repeat.

2. Turn Your Walk into a Mini Scavenger Hunt
Next time you stroll around the block, count how many cardinals you spot. Notice the stage of your neighbor’s cherry-choke tree. Whose lawn is lush and green? Whose looks more like hay? Usually mine. Take note. Reflect. Rinse and repeat.

3. Channel Your Inner “Porch Philosopher” Outside the Store
Stand just outside Mariano’s or Trader Joe’s and simply observe. Watch the kind sir helping the elderly woman with the door. Notice how people greet each other, the quick smile and the gentle nod. Take note. Reflect. Rinse and repeat.

This is what it’s all about. Summer is in full swing, which means our opportunity to notice everything is at its peak. You don’t need a custom retreat or a perfectly clear schedule, just a willingness to slow down, lift your head, and breathe. Whether it’s taking a daily inventory of tomatoes growing in your yard, the sweet sound of birds chirping, or the hoots and hollers of neighbor kids playing night games, these little moments are waiting to be discovered.

So here’s your task: choose one small practice, sit outside with your breakfast, play detective on your next walk, or eavesdrop on kindness at the grocery store. Do it today. Notice what you notice. Let that tiny seed of awareness grow. Because once you start seeing life’s everyday magic, you’ll realize that slowness isn’t selfish; it’s your superpower. And this summer, it’s yours for the taking.

I appreciate your readership.

Stay cozy,

Michelle

This article was originally written for Hillgrove Avenue Magazine, June 2025 Issue.