Things to do Before Summer Ends

It is now August, and it seems like that’s when we start to remember the coming of Fall.  Each year, Nature closes in on itself, leaves drop, and the Earth goes into hibernation.  For the citizens of the Emerald City, it seems eminent and somewhat immediate.  The temperature has dropped about 10 degrees and the sun is less prominent each day.  Just yesterday it seems like the days were long and warm, and like anyone having too much fun, we’ve found that Summer is quickly passing.

All this fall-talk doesn’t mean that there isn’t enough Summer left to go around, though – and there are definitely things you need to do before summer ends, such as:

1. Spend a day at the beach – even if it isn’t warm, sunny, lovely, the soothing rush of moving water really grounds a girl (or boy!) and harmonizes with your inner peace.

Photo by CCGD

2. Experiment with bright colors.  Wear bright eyeshadow, bright shoes, or a bright top.   Put bright colors in your home.  Offset the knowledge that winter grey and whites are coming by using color in your life.

3. Buy yourself a cute pair of sandals and do your toesies up – whether it’s a pro-pedi, or a DIY paint job, show off your “lil’ piggies”.

4. Eat an avocado – whole… plain or with salt and pepper, eat it with a spoon, right out of its shell.

5. Learn to make smoothies and concoct yourself magical smoothie treats.  On this same goal, learn to make yourself a new yummy cocktail you’ve never had before.  Invite your friends over for happy hour.

Pink Lemonade Cocktail - click the photo for a link!

6. Have a water fight!  Buy squirt guns or water balloons and go to town.  Invite all your friends and snuggle up together in big comfy beach towels later.

7. Run.  I don’t mean go on a running regimen twice a week.  Race your boyfriend to the end of the block, chase your dog across the park, sprint to the store… anything!  Just run, as fast as you can, to somewhere reasonable and enjoy the fact that you can run, that you’re fast, that the wind is blowing through your hair and you are alive.

8. Help someone out – whether it’s your mom, the mean lady you work with, an old friend or a stranger, do something nice for someone else, and chaos will eventually return the favor!

9. Start a new project – make it a fun one!  I don’t mean start doing the laundry you’ve been putting off for weeks.  Give yourself an adventure.  Start a new book you’ve been meaning to read, knit a sweater (it’ll come in handy in a few months!), sign up for classes at school.  Embark on an exciting mission to awesome-land!

10. Host a spontaneous dance party (… in the park)!  Did you see that video of the guy at Sasquatch, dancing his ass off to MIA?  He started a dance revolution – now it’s your turn.  Whether or not you actually are at a park is optional – hell, you could dance party on your deck, on your lawn, in your bedroom… dance party down the street… dance party in a parking lot … dance party when nobody’s looking, or when someone is looking – and then invite them to join in.  Dance to elevator music… dance to music on your iPod, or a boombox… seat-dance to the music in your car when you’re waiting at stoplights…dance to music in your favorite store or the music in your head.

I’m sure you can think up a million things to do before Summer winds down – let me know what YOU are out doing.

Remember – Inspiration never strikes a stationary target, so keep moving!