Time, Where Did You Go?

Greetings Friends!  I hope you are well.  I have had a busy summer, and so, I wrote a little less.  But I have missed you and it is time to get back into a routine.  I work as a School Counselor, which means my summers are all my own. For the most part, I get to do the things I want to do with my summer.  Thinking about my summer winding down makes me evaluate how I spend my time.  I hope you each had a great summer and were able to do all of things with all the people that you were hoping to be able to do.  It seems time slips away so rapidly.  Often it even seems to move faster without any warning.  I do not have the ability to stop time from moving–the seconds keeps on ticking even as sand falls through an hourglass. Luckily, I do have the ability to choose how I spend my time.

Summertime Goals

I began my summer knowing what things I wanted to have accomplished by the end of my summer.  So, in essence, I set summertime goals for myself.  My usual summer goals involve some type of project, maybe some travel, and some rest.  This year, my goals were very different.  Family was the top.  I wanted to make some family memories.  I also began a part-time job this year and wanted to spend some time getting into that role so I could continue it when I returned to my regular life.  And I wanted to write, so I spent some time working on a book.  It has been a busy summer, but a good summer.

Summer Adventures

My family goals were met in many ways.  I was hoping to go on an adventure with my parents.  And you know what?  We did it!  Twice!  We road tripped across country from Tennessee to Nebraska with stops along the way in Missouri. Mom and I ate outside in downtown Kansas City, we walked around a fountain park, and had a tour of the city by my niece. I was able to go back and see where I attended college…. fun times! I enjoyed the big and the little of the trip. I enjoyed the big and the little of my summer. I always wish there was another day. I always seem to want just one more day to do things with the people I love and, well lets be honest, even just to have a day to myself for R and R. It is important to plan for adventures, memories and rest. Start a list and plan for all of the above. What things do you want to accomplish before the end of the summer? What things can you do with family and friends? How about for yourself? Take some time to create a list and start crossing things off of it.

Making Memories on Less Money

What memories were you able to make this summer?  The summer has not yet ended, if you haven’t had an opportunity to make any, now is a good time to plan.  A day at the zoo?  A movie night?  Camping in the backyard?  Oh, I know, kayaking.  I need to do that!  What about a day trip?  I remember one summer, when I didn’t have a lot of extra cash for recreation.  I was a single mom and I was working on a reduced income.  But being single and on tight budget didn’t mean I wanted less memories for my kids.  That summer our biggest activities were trips to the local library for reading fairs and my favorite, camping out in the back yard.  We had such fun!  We have since had great times on big trips, but the memory wasn’t made better because of the additional expense.  It was made better because of the people I shared it with. 

Just Start

It seems that sometimes the thing that keeps us from making memories with our families is simply setting out to achieve the goal.  Your memory may not involve 1500 miles, but you can still make memorable events for your family.  Pick something, plans several somethings, and enjoy each other.  The point of making memories is to enjoy each other and spend time together.  Make a list and start today. What great fun can you plan for the rest of your summer? What memories will you make that you can keep with your forever, long after your children have grown and moved away? Just get started on some today… and have such great fun together! Enjoy your activities, your family, and the rest of your summer.  I hope you are also able to find some down time to catch lightening bugs, ride a bicycle, go for a walk, play with a pet or just rest.  Thank you for spending a part of your day with me! Be well my friends!

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