Written by Online therapist Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, Ph.D.

Adirondack Chairs: Memory, Muscle, and the Magic of Sitting Still

Adirondack chairs aren’t just furniture, they’re invitations to pause, reflect, and connect. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how a simple chair can evoke summer memories, family stories, and the joy of staying put.

You know these chairs. You see them on beaches, the porches of resorts, and people’s summer decks. They come in bright colors or muted wood tones. They are big and heavy.

As winter approaches, why in the world am I thinking of Adirondack chairs? Brains are amusing things. They hold our memories and can toss pieces of history into the present with ease.

You know what I mean. You have probably woken from a dream and wondered, why in the world did my brain fish out that memory to throw into the night? Perhaps you found yourself floating in a pool, the warmth of the sun beating down, feeling like you could float there forever. Maybe that means there will be a break in this workload that has been plaguing you. Or perhaps you are back in middle school and can’t find your way to class, and no one will help you. There’s that workload again, only this time the uncertainty of success is looming. Maybe you are standing before the dessert tray at a banquet, unable to decide which sweet treat to try, since they are all perfect little morsels and you want to taste each one before deciding.

Oh heck, I have gone way off track. Back to the chairs.

The shape of this chair is inviting. However, once you sink into it, you may find it challenging to get out. The seat’s slope puts you close to the ground, and your knees end up in the air. The position is quite comfortable, but getting up from it requires strong abdominal muscles. If you look around at your friends and family, those may be hard to spot. Once in, though, maybe you don’t want to get out.

You can kick off your shoes or flip-flops and dig your toes into the sand. The arms are wide enough to hold a cool drink. If your partner has been clever, they’ve drilled a small hole into the arm to keep one of those spiral cup holders, so you never have to worry about losing your drink to the sand. Additionally, you rarely find a single Adirondack chair. They almost always come in groups or clusters, with space for friends and family to join you.

Eventually, the stories turn to funny tales of vacations past, the silly things your cousins have done, or how some distant relative ended up in jail after riding a tractor onto the football field. No, really. Relatives do these kinds of things.

If you stay long enough, someone will build a bonfire, and you can roast marshmallows if your stick is long enough, because trust me, you are not getting out of that chair.

Want to explore how memory, relaxation, and shared rituals support emotional health? Visit Psychology Today’s article on rest and reminiscence and Greater Good’s guide to how shared experiences build relationships.

If you’re reflecting on memory, family connection, or emotional rest, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support clarity, connection, and emotional ease.