We all know this feeling: The rainy days of spring have concluded and our wellies and umbrellas are tucked back into their rightful corner of the coat closet. Summer has finally arrived and we are all ready to hit the town, the beach, the mall… we pretty much want to go anywhere and do everything.
When this frenzy happens at the start of every summer, I make a lofty list of things to do and places to go. This year was no different in that way. Also no different from past years was the end of summer when I realized I had barely scratched the surface of my long list. This failure to meet my goals (which even includes things like “go to an amusement park”) always leaves me guilty when autumn begins, as if I’ve wasted valuable time for personal growth, productivity, and having fun.
Perhaps my tendency to plan such elaborate summers comes from being in the high-pressure world of academics. Two of the most common questions from peers and professors alike is “what are you doing this summer?” and “what did you do this summer?” Answering with “nothing” feels unacceptable and embarrassing when compared to Jane’s fast-paced internship on Wall Street and Joe’s lavish cruise in the Mediterranean. A desire to impress colleagues (and my myself) inspires me to make similar goals of having the perfect internship and never-ending vacations, but the high-pressure environment of school is exactly why they don’t materialize. After nine months of lectures, tests, and papers, I need summer to recharge and get ready to do it all over again. Quite honestly, I think it’s about time we normalize summer (or any vacation or weekend) as a time for recuperation. We live in a go-go-go culture that lends itself to high expectations of oneself, which when not met results in inadequacy or, for me, “end-of-summer guilt.” If we started prioritizing breaks as a time for rest, fun and exciting opportunities would present themselves organically and we’d feel proud about whatever it is we accomplish, rather than feeling inadequate and like we still could’ve done more… and I guarantee that whatever you did this summer, this month, or this past year was more than enough!
Can you relate with this feeling or do I sound kind of crazy? Let me know in the comments below! Also, let me know how your year is going now that we’re heading into the last quarter of 2018. It’s crazy how time flies!
Also, I hope you like these photos where I am wearing one of my favorite summer outfits doing one of my favorite year-round activities (eating, LOL). I can’t wait to style this skirt up in the coming months with tights and a cozy sweater!
