Thinking about the summer activities still left to do?

Summer-ween will be here in a wink of an eye! It comes when summer peaks its hottest temperature during the latter half of July. Thinking about that first cool breeze arriving on a crisp autumnal morning is refreshing. As August now beckons, it is a good idea to think about the summer activities that are still left to do.

Now is the time to inspire well-being and personal fulfillment.

Summer Activities Still To-Do Checklist:

1. Sprout New Ways to Grow Yourself. Summer surrounds us with everything green and beautiful. We happily spend time tending the garden, growing vegetables and planting flowers. However, devoting time to grow your capacity to “grow” from within is so important to personal fulfillment. As the world is always changing, seek ways to expand how you think about your life and the relationships that mean everything.

Drawing wisdom from classical literature.

Reading the works of the great writers imparts unforgettable wisdom.  The life lessons learned by traveling through the writer’s own experiences often creatively retold through the story make us better and wiser along the way. My summer of Fydor Dostoevsky (The Brothers Karamazov) and George Eliot (Middle March) has left me wanting for only more. Losing his own son to epilepsy, Dostoesvsky took up the pen to get through the profound loss.  And Eliot shares so much wisdom learned over the course of her difficulties recast in the character Dorothea.

Yes, reading these masterful works are an investment of time – but one that will pay dividends for a whole lifetime.

I particularly love the writing of British novelist Monica Dickens (the great granddaughter of Charles Dickens) and Dodie Smith. The Winds of Heaven and I Capture the Castle are among my personal favorites. On the financial side of life – Morgan Housel’s The Psychology of Money was fantastic.  A successful investor, Housel walks through wise ways to manage finances while still centering on what is most important.

Check out the Wallflower Journal for new books and inspirations too!

https://www.wallflowerjournal.com/

2. Work at New Healthy Habits in Smaller Steps.

On average, it takes about 2 months for a habit to become fully incorporated into everyday living.  Build better nutrition through natural fruits and vegetables, getting outdoors more often (less screen time) and finding time to think away from all the noise, to really hear those birds chirping and taste the sweetness of that tangerine.

Building a healthy routine in smaller steps is far more effective over the long term.

Although the years spent exercising at various gyms kept me healthy, I wish I would have known the real benefits that come from simple, every day walking. What started as a 3 mile walk has morphed into 6 miles on any given day. Walking outside while enjoying nature has completely shifted my perspective on the indoor treadmill!  Most importantly, the time brings the quiet to pray, and to silently listen for what God may be speaking into the world.

At the supermarket, look for new fruits and vegetables in season that could change up your lunch or dinner menu. The more purple the fruit or vegetable – the healthier it is. Every July I look out for that first bag of delicious cherries (my favorite!).

There is no limit to the number of ways you can add healthy habits into your day for better well-being.

3. Find a “Fascinator” of the Week or Month!

Since the 1990s, the term “fascinator” has referred to a type of large decorative headwear like Kate is wearing here.  So pretty.

While I love how these fancy hats look, I am using the term in another context. That is, each week (or once a month), try to add one “fascinator” to inspire your normal routine.  Something that is fun and an out of the ordinary activity you typically do. A fascinator can be anything – visiting a great cafe for coffee, taking a new online class to learn about an entirely new topic (well out of your expertise!) or trying a new flavor of ice-cream.

Treating someone else with a thoughtful “fascinator.”

Be assured, the more time you spend thinking about ways to bring joy to someone else, the greater are the blessings that come to your own life.   Not just in the present time, but in the future lives of your children and grandchildren.  God has always rewarded the goodness shown by one person, blessing the generations that come after by that one simple act of love.

The list is endless.

Set goals for each month, even adding fascinator categories if you like (one book fascinator, a fascinator visit to a new art fair…).  Adding something new and different to your life experience grows you as a person, and increases the presence of joy in your life.  The key is to add new activities that are seemingly unfamiliar at the start but become sources of joy the more you do them.

Now, looking head to the border month between summer and fall…August will soon be here!

August is the slow, gentle month that stretches out the longest across the span of a year. It yawns and lingers on with the light in its palms.” — Victoria Erickson

Happy Summer!