Written by contributing blogger: Daniela Forte.

If there is anything those closest know about me, is that I am a traditionalist. I firmly believe in the value of tradition and that belief is strong during the summer months. I admit I am not a fan of summer, but I am a fan of summer traditions. Events like church fairs and 4^th of July fireworks are a must for me each year.

Each season has its set of traditions I enjoy, the winter has the holidays, the fall have apple and pumpkin picking and leaf peeping (if you live in New England like I do, you understand what leaf peeping is). The summer however is something else. It’s a chance to enjoy the warm weather and be outdoors with friends and family and enjoy each other’s company.

The 4^th of July fireworks are my favorite, in my city it can get a little crowded and hectic, but it’s fun. You sit on the sand at one of our beaches and you just enjoy being an American, it sounds a bit corny, but it’s true. And this year was just as great.

What is your favorite summer tradition? If you don’t have one, I strongly recommend discovering one and embrace it for all it has to offer.   Often times we take these yearly traditions for granted because they come around each year and we don’t think too much of them.

While my summer traditions are that of a big city, working for a newspaper in an area of Connecticut with a cluster of small towns, there are so many traditions celebrated throughout the season, more than I could ever think of. It was to a point where I often said, “They celebrate that?” Traditions like these bring people together and it’s a chance to celebrate all that life has to offer.

One year I got to spend my 4^th of July in Baltimore, Maryland and I have to say I had never experienced a fireworks celebration quite like that. In a city that filled with rich history, celebrating an American holiday like that was just amazing.   The fireworks were over the Baltimore Harbor and it seemed for a moment that the entire city stopped just to enjoy a few moments of patriotism. I just loved it, it was the best year I had ever experienced fireworks.

People in my life often poke fun at my love of tradition, but tradition makes me happy, and I believe that traditions are the little things that make life worthwhile.

So find something you enjoy doing during any season and make a tradition out of it. Is it a church fair you enjoy going to? Go every year! Is it a picnic at the beach you enjoy? Create a yearly event around it.   Bring people together. What is great about these types of things is that it brings joy, not only to your life, but joy to those around you as well.

Happy Summer Everyone! How do you radiate daily?