A Reflection on the First Day of Summer

I was fortunate enough to grow up in a small beach town in Southern California. While the way I mark the start of Summer has changed over the years, there’s still something about it that hits me - even if I almost miss it.

When we were kids, you knew when summer started. It was the last day of school, plain and simple. That final bell would ring, and suddenly everything felt different. You just knew that the beach days were coming. Mornings in the sand, sports in the afternoon, and quick dips in the ocean in between - we filled the calendar without ever needing one.

That rhythm shaped me.

These days, there’s no bell - just a subtle shift that creeps up on you. You notice the sun hanging around longer, people start traveling, there's just this hum of energy and excitement in the air. But if you’re not careful, you’ll blink and it’s already July.

I’ve been in it lately - building Shorebird, learning the rhythm of parenthood, trying to keep all the pieces moving in sync. The days run together in a way that feels both full and off balance. And truthfully? I haven’t spent as much time outside as I’d like. But even a quick break - walking barefoot through the grass or jumping in the ocean during a break for lunch with my wife and son, it recalibrates everything. It reminds me how essential that time outside is.

And honestly that’s really the whole point of Shorebird. Yes, we’ve poured everything into building the best chair we could dream up, but it’s really about what the chair invites you into. Staying longer, recharging better, and creating room to be where your feet are - outside, away from screens, with the people you love, or on your own just catching your breath.

I’m writing this as a reminder to myself, too. Summer is HERE and it won’t last forever. We don’t get it handed to us the way we did as kids. We have to claim it, make space for it, protect it.

So that’s my intention this Summer: more time outside. Less rushing, more laughter, more barefoot lunches by the water and catching sunsets with the ones I love. More showing up fully in the moment instead of thinking of what's next. Less noise, and more nature. Because that's the whole point.

If you’re reading this, I hope you find time for that too - whatever your version of Summer looks like. Whether it’s a big trip or a few stolen moments between meetings, I hope you give yourself permission to enjoy it. You deserve it.

See you out there,

Taylor