Design your Summer – What is on your Summer Bucket List?
Ahhh. It’s finally summer. Summer. So good. Long days. Sunshine. Flowers. Time spent outside with family and friends. BBQs and pick nicks. Time near (or better yet, in) the ocean and lakes. Freedom. Vacation. Summer clothes, sandals, flip-flops. The sound of birds singing in the forest. The smell of wet soil after a summer thunderstorm. I love it all.
I don’t know about you, but I have waited ALL year for summer!
Is this your favorite season? The answer to that question may also depend on the where you live. I imagine if it is too hot, you may be looking forward to fall. But summer in the West Coast of Canada feels absolutely perfect: Not too hot, no rain and long days. Perfect for all of the activities I like to do outside. There are more than I have time for.
Does summer never feel long enough?
I always find that the season is over way too fast, especially when you have a full work life, family responsibilities and maybe even a side business. Sound familiar?
Making a summer bucket list helps me remember what I truly value about the wonderful summer season – spending quality time with my loved ones.
What I don’t want is summer to be over before I enjoyed doing the things I love with the people I love. Because we really only have two seasons in the south of the West Coast of Canada – the rainy season and the not so rainy season (otherwise known as summer) – it’s super important to make the most of it.
Otherwise, you have to wait until next year … NOOoooo… !
To avoid the unfortunate conundrum of running out of summer before running out of things to do, I recommend making a summer bucket list. It’s a great way to really maximize truly magical summer experiences by really taking ownership over what you want to do with it. Personally, it’s also part of my “end of summer” coping strategy, LOL! Once I enjoyed the items on my list, I am (somewhat) okay to accept when summer is over.
What would you put on your bucket list?
What experiences do you want to enjoy during this time of year, which will add to your enjoyment of your life?
Here is my list:
- Camp in the wilderness
- Swim in the ocean and in lakes, pretty much every chance I can – especially early in the morning before work
- Eat meals outside whenever possible
- Enjoy summer festivals such as car-free days, street parties and music festivals.
- Hike in the mountains and jump into an alpine lake
- Watch at least one open air movie
- Go to a yoga retreat
- Play outside with my daughter at the end of my workdays – either go to the playground, make sand castles at the beach or explore the nearby park
- Spend quality time with my parents in the garden of their home
- Go down the waterside in English Bay – a huge, blue metal slide on a raft, which floats in the ocean at a beach near downtown Vancouver.
If you are not sure what your summer bucket list is, grab a nice cold beverage, a pad of paper and a quiet spot to sit and “design your summer”. It does not have to be perfect. You can always add more items or change your list later.
Here’s to an amazing summer everyone!
Simone
