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Danielle AccovelliWhile there are still several weeks of summer before the back-to-school rush, the NFL and college football seasons and the new fall fashions start to hit the stores—I decided to make a list of things to accomplish while the days are still long and it feels like I have a little extra time on my hands. Please note that I use the word “accomplish” loosely, as many of the things on my list are purely indulgent, and only a few will make me feel truly accomplished!
To Do:
- Volunteer a few weekend hours at my local animal shelter
- See the Bill Graham rock exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center
- Clean my closets and donate unwanted items
- Read at least two books from the New York Times Best Seller list (one fiction, one non-fiction)
- Take advantage of a free personal training session at my gym
- Hike the Back Bone Trail for at least 10 miles
- Make a meal from scratch
- Binge watch House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black
- Spend some time with my brothers, whose families live less than an hour from me, but I only see a few times a year
- Offer to watch my friends’ kids so they can take a much-deserved date night
In reviewing the list I realize it could be twice as long, but since my goal is to accomplish all (or at least most) of the items listed, I’m stopping here and giving myself one month to tick off every task.
My goal in sharing this list is to encourage people to take time for a little mid-year reflection and to (hopefully) inspire others to create a personal end-of-summer list of their own. Our lives are so busy, and nearly everyone I know spends the majority of their time working, caring for their families, and making time for everyone but themselves. Allowing just a few minutes each day for gratitude, simple pleasures, and giving back to those in need might make for more lasting peace of mind, happiness, and well-being. All goals worth achieving!
