I received an email ripe with despair from an activist mentor the other day, her festering rage deflated by exhaustion and lost hope. Instead of rallying her to carry on, I took a different tack. Told her to take a break, relax, and reboot. There will be another day to sally forth, stronger.

The Awkward Poser, like most of us these days, is completely over sequestering and social distancing, hand washing and face masking—though he still does them all. He’s sweaty from a record hot summer—though it will likely seem cool compared to summer’s ahead. He’s fatigued from delving ever deeper into our nation’s systematic abuse of people of color, and frustrated by how difficult it is to change. And he’s totally over a country whose leaders teeter on autocracy while our morals plummet so far from mutual respect and caring, they dangle from a mere dollar sign.

If you share my exhaustion and that of my friend, take a break. Kick back and enjoy the joys of summer that come to all, regardless of virus-status or political inclination. Breath in all the good that nature provides. Sit in awe at an impressionistic full moon. Marvel at the sweet breeze. Appreciate the abundant daisies, warbling birds and howling coyotes. The earth is still a wondrous place, and humans are still its most wondrous creatures.

I wish everyone leisurely moments to bask in summer’s glory.