Some of my favorite memories aren’t the big, planned ones. They’re the quiet, unexpected moments that unfold when you least expect them, especially in the summer.

This week, we lingered outside after dinner. The sun had slipped just below the trees, leaving the sky that perfect dusky blue. The air was warm. The kids ran through the yard, laughter trailing behind them. And then, not after long, the fireflies appeared!

At first, it was just a flicker here and there. Then a few more. Then the whole yard seemed to pulse with light. Small sparks that were impossible to ignore.

There is something about those moments that centers me. They are not part of any plan. You cannot schedule them. You cannot measure them. But, they are the moments I hold onto the longest.

In our work, and in life, it is so easy to move from one milestone to the next, constantly focused on progress and outcomes. When I think about what I really remember when I go to sleep at night, what fuels me to keep going, are the moments like these. Sitting with family on a warm summer night, watching my kids run through the grass, chasing lights that will be gone before the season turns.

These are not distractions from the work. They are the reason for it.

I believe they matter in more ways than we realize, because when we take time to see and savor the world around us… we return to our work with more clarity. With a fuller heart. With ideas that feel more grounded in what is real and lasting.

So this summer, I am reminding myself to lean into these little moments. To sit outside a little longer. To welcome the unexpected. To choose presence, not productivity, at least for a while.

There will be time for strategy. For planning. For the next big push. Not every season is meant to move at full speed. Some are meant to glow softly, like the fireflies. Here for a moment, but carrying a kind of light that stays with us long after.

I hope this summer brings you more of those moments. And when you are ready to return to the work ahead, may you do so with a little more light to guide you.

If you enjoy reflections like this alongside actionable ideas for growing your brand, I invite you to subscribe to JHD’s Fresh Look Friday newsletter! Each week, we share insights to help you approach marketing with more clarity and intention, season by season. We’d love to have you, and you can sign up here: http://jasonhunterdesign.com/fresh-look-friday/.