This past week my family and I took a short vacation- mainly visiting wineries and museums. It was fun, and hopeful, and made me think that maybe this summer deserves a bucket list. Last year, my summer bucket list was simply to survive. This year? While I’m not sure I’m ready for ALL the things, I am looking forward to doing some of the things.*
*while this recent little trip seemed to ease some of my reopening anxiety, I still have a little bit. Did you miss it? I got honest about my fears here.
Bucket lists, to me, are equally about hopes and plans. Summer is the season that seems to both move the slowest and the fastest for me, and I’m trying to put doable things on my list while remaining flexible (as things both become more open and as my anxiety *hopefully* lessens). Small things, big things, and everything in between: here’s what’s on my summer bucket list so far!
A Pool
Remember last summer when I got a baby pool and it was my favorite thing? It still is, but this year I want to go to a real pool. And swim. And get my hair wet. Lay out. Nap in the sun. Come home smelling like sunscreen and being a little bit sun tired. I don’t know if I will be able to get to a beach (the dream) but I want a lot of pool days.
Reading and Movies
I used to be an avid reader. As in I was averaging at least 2 books a week. I would lose myself in books and stories. Same thing for movies. One of my favorite things used to be “sneaking” off to a matinee and letting the magical world welcome me in. If you follow me on IG you may have seen me say on my stories this week that I’m doing a little detox- mainly as that for my Hot Vaxxed Girl Summer I want to become/recreate/rediscover my best and most fashionable self. And part of that for me is getting back to reading and movies.
Plans
When I sat down to make this bucket list, this is about where I got stuck. In the “before” I used to make plans- for the blog, travel, friends, family. And I would follow through! From lunches to meetings to shoots to holidays. But. After 2020, I’m having a hard time distinguishing between plans (meet my friend’s babies! Go shopping! Meet for lunch! Shoot certain outfits!) and more dreams (take tap dance again! Plan vacations!). There’s no reason why I can’t (and shouldn’t) do both, as well as follow through with them. Yet, it feels a bit overwhelming. I may also still be a little superstitious and I don’t want to plan TOO far ahead. My solution? At least every other week I want to have a plan (meet a friend for lunch, get that dr’s appt booked, take a class, etc). I’m not forcing myself to go big, and letting my plans be a little more flexible than I usually would. Little things, but hopefully leading to big things.
What about you? What’s on your summer bucket list? Are you letting yourself get right back into the swing of things or are you easing in? Tell me all about it!
Wishing us all a week of crossing off bucket lists and amazing shoes! XO RA
