How is it already September 1? Where did August go? Where did the summer go?? I know technically it’s still summer, but there’s something about the arrival of September that flips a switch for me. Once this long weekend is over, it’s a different season in my mind. On Tuesday, I’ll have to drive through a 15mph school zone…enough said.
Maybe my summer seemed to go by so quickly because I didn’t do much aside from my normal day to day. I did take a week-long staycation in July. And I did start this blog, and that is definitely something! But no real memory-making summer adventures happened this year. Which is a bummer, and is no one’s fault but my own. My tendency is to stay nestled in my comfort zone. And maybe it feels good while I’m there, but when I look back I feel sad. I’d rather look back and feel the glow of a beautiful sunset on my face, as the vibrant colors dipping below the horizon are engraved into my mind.
Once upon a time, not that long ago, I had a fleeting thought to treat summer like sleep-away camp. I never went to camp as a kid, but I like to imagine it as carefree and memory-making, with sun kissed adventures during the day and magical evenings filled with fun and friendship each night. Now I’m an adult and I work full time and I’m usually exhausted after a long day at the office.
But the idea was, and still is, so inspiring to me: to enjoy the little things; to inject something fun and unique into each day and night, something that screams summer, even during the mundane moments of the work week. To think of the menial tasks that sometimes fill our time in a new light, as some sort of adventure, and to find the joy in them. To make the days feel carefree (or as carefree as possible), even when I’m stuck inside four walls. But this summer, that wasn’t in the cards. I’m not sure I ever have truly attempted this approach if I’m being honest. But especially this year. I didn’t make a plan. At all. And it went by in the blink of an eye.
I know that summer still has 21 days to go, but rather than cram adventure into these last 3 weeks before it’s over, I’m going to embrace the upcoming season by writing a fall fun list. I hope that by doing so I’ll be more likely to make the most of my time and enjoy the unique experiences that autumn has to offer. And if it’s a success (even partially so), I think I’ll create a list for winter, spring, and summer too. Because I’m the type of person who needs some sort of plan. I don’t want to look back and realize a whole lifetime has slipped by without savoring the joys of the everyday and what makes each season so special. So without further ado, here are 31 things I’d like to do before the clutches of a cold winter descend upon us!
- Take a nature walk/hike
- Photograph the fall foliage
- Come up with a creative Halloween costume
- Carve a real pumpkin or decorate a faux one (or both!)
- Watch (and sing and dance to) Michael Jackson’s Thriller video
- Update my wreath for fall
- Make pumpkin smoothies
- Go to the zoo
- Eat an apple cider donut (or two!)
- Visit a farmer’s market
- Go to a craft fair
- Try a new soup recipe
- Make slow-cooker pumpkin chickpea curry
- See (and smell) the farm animals in Lancaster County
- Visit an orchard
- Participate in a 5k
- Watch Harry Potter
- Crochet a new scarf
- Paint pottery
- See a stage production
- Get a dark manicure
- Exercise outside and enjoy the crisp fall air
- Eat a caramel apple
- Vote, vote, vote!
- Keep a gratitude jar
- Donate to a food drive
- Make butter beer
- Create my hygge nest
- Light spice scented candles
- Have hot cocoa/chai by the fire
- Plan a winter escape to somewhere warm!
How do you make the most of the fall season?
Many thanks and much love,
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