As I’m sitting here writing this, there is literally a torrential downpour happening outside my window. This is the first time it’s rained here in Columbus, Ohio in what feels like months. It’s been so dry, and everything is turning brown instead of the usual luscious, vibrant green. I’m finally pulling out my bright yellow wellies today (it feels so wonderfully British to say that??) and they’re a nice big pop of color on an otherwise dreary day.
Note = I actually wrote this on September 22nd, just didn't get around to publishing it until now 🫠
As the days start to get a bit cooler (although, here in Columbus the temperature can change as drastically as the stock market), I’m finally feeling ready to embrace the fall season.
All of a sudden, exactly on September 21st, I felt the internal urge to turn on Gilmore Girls, make a batch of pumpkin spice simple syrup, and go on a pumpkin and mum shopping spree at Home Depot to create a fall *display* on my front porch.
I realized that I have yet to update you guys on my “end-of-summer bucket list,” which I actually finished a few weeks ago.
I know I’m posting this just a tad late, but for those of you who didn’t see my end-of-summer bucket list (video) post, definitely go watch that first.
Honestly, I’m so glad I did this. I would highly recommend doing a seasonal bucket list at the start of each new season, but I think that my own personal example (again, see this post) taught me that it’s never too late to “salvage” the season and truly make the most of it.
Don’t fall into the easy trap of “oh, I’ll just start tomorrow, or next week, or next season” - but take whatever action you can now. As I read somewhere else here on Substack (but unfortunately completely forget where), “action is the antidote to anxiety.”
I feel like some people (important: some, not all) rush into the next season out of anxiety. If they feel like they completely botched summer and it’s too late to really make the most out of it, perhaps rushing into autumn will soothe their existential dread and give them something to distract themselves (or they just really love pumpkin spice - because that’s valid too).
Or perhaps it’s that, societally, we’re just so conditioned to be constantly looking to the future that we’re never truly relishing the bliss of the current season. The present moment. We can’t sit still without mentally being 10 steps ahead and jumping to a task that needs to be completed at some point in the future (or, of course, ruminating on how we f*cked up the past).
The present moment is a rare, delicious place to be and I truly believe it’s accessible to all of us - at any time we choose to claim it.
I find that really maximizing each season, and leaning into even the cheesiest bits of it, is one small thing that has helped me reclaim the lost art of presence.
With my end-of-summer bucket list, there were definitely moments that I thought “ugh, I just don’t feel like doing this right now, maybe tomorrow.” But, I soon realized that if I let my “feelings” run my life, I’d do absolutely nothing and then always regret doing absolutely nothing.
So, sure, there were moments that I decided to do something on my list just for the purpose and satisfaction of checking it off (and I have my Substack audience holding me accountable for goodness sake - so I must do it!). But, the strangest thing happened - I always ended up enjoying the thing and was happy I took the time to do it. Even when it took a bit of extra effort or planning (like when I brought my instant camera along for a bike ride and stopped to snap some pics of things even though it would’ve been far easier to just not bring it along!).
I must say, there’s something really delightful about getting to the end of a season and feeling like you really did make the most of it - and then from a place of satisfaction and gratitude you can then move happily on to embracing the next season and all of the fun, unique joys that it brings.
So, without further ado, here is a little summary of my end-of-summer bucket list experience:
Go out for an ice cream cone
I don’t know if I can speak on behalf of everyone in Columbus, Ohio, but when it comes to choosing a place to go out for ice cream - I’m pretty sure the top pick is always Jeni’s (which actually started here in Cbus). For those of you who don’t have a Jeni’s close to you, you can buy pints of it in most grocery stores around the country! Jeni’s is pretty much the only ice cream place I actually like, and honestly there is just something extra *summer* about eating it out of a cone. I think ice cream should always be eaten in a cone!
Run through sprinklers in the yard
I love to put on a swimsuit, lay out on my patio, and sunbathe… so this is the perfect way to cool off and feel like a kid again. Sprinkler water also has a really distinct smell and it just smells like summer to me.
Have a picnic in the park (with a SNACKLE box)
I brought my dogs with me and had a lovely little picnic at the park! If you’ve never heard of snackle boxes (do a quick search on Pinterest and you’ll see what I mean), you definitely need to check them out! It was such a fun “snacky” lunch and honestly snacking and reading in the shade on a lovely summer day is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon.
Eat a popsicle
Eating a colorful popsicle outside on a hot sunny day truly captures the essence of summer in the most nostalgic way. This is my favorite popsicle brand/flavor.
Make homemade ice cream
I get raw milk and cream from a local farm so making high-quality, tasty ice cream at home is something I love to do. For this one I actually made a homemade blackberry syrup from fresh blackberries that I got from my local farmers market and I used that to make blackberry ice cream!
Play croquet/get croquet set
THIS has honestly been the best summer (and even now into early fall…) addition to our routine. I was able to “steal” my parents’ old croquet set from their garage (very *vintage*!). It’s been so fun to enjoy time outside with family and friends playing croquet, which is super chill and does not require any athleticism or “skill,” pretty much anyone can pick it up rather quickly! I thought this would be a one-time thing to check off this list, just to say I tried it haha, but it’s really become a new summer staple (or really for any time of the year where it’s decent weather outside!). I love spending time barefoot in the grass anyways so this is a fun activity/game that really encourages you to be outside more.
Spend a whole day sunbathing
Check (multiple times, haha). Give me all the sun while I can get it ;)
Use a whole set of film for my instant camera (take more pics!!!)
I feel like carrying my camera around and extra film (and remembering to actually snap pictures when out and about) is difficult to get in a habit of doing, but I’m always so happy that I took the extra effort to bring it along and snap some pics. There’s just something about an instant camera that feels so nostalgic and really captures the moment in a way that your phone camera just can’t match.
Pool day at local pool
I always love a good pool day! I ordered some chicken nugs and brought along my journal with some fun gel pens (gel pens make writing so much more fun, don’t they?). I remember pool days as a kid (chlorine and all) and so even though I usually prefer just laying out on my patio at home I still like to try to get a few pool days in every summer.
Paint my toenails
For some reason I felt strongly pulled towards neon green, and I’m so glad I chose that color! So bright and fun for summer :)
Watch at least 3 “summer” movies
The three BEST summer movies (do not argue with me) are The Parent Trap, Aquamarine, and Rearview Window. Monte Carlo and Magic in the Moonlight are also solid choices. I watched all of these this summer!
Go cloud watching
This should honestly be a kind of meditation. I think we’re always so used to taking things like “mindfulness,” meditation, and journaling (let me process all of my childhood trauma!!!!) so seriously that we forget that simple things like trying to pick out shapes and figures in the clouds can also delight our inner child and cultivate mindfulness and grounded presence.
Perfect a non-alcoholic basil japapeno marg recipe
Ever since I had the non-alcoholic basil jalapeño marg at ABC Cocina in NYC, I’ve been trying to recreate it. I think I’ve gotten pretty close, although I wouldn’t necessarily say that I’ve *perfected* it. Then again, maybe everything just tastes better in NYC.
Make s’mores
My parents and cousin came over and we made our first “s’mores” of the year and got our fire pit started up again. I’m still not quite sure if this is more of a summer or fall thing, but in my mind - it’s both!
Go stargazing
I thought that driving about 15 min north (in the “country”) of the little suburb city we live in would be a sufficient distance to be able to see the stars more clearly, away from the lights of the city, but my husband and I soon realized that we could pretty much see the stars just as well in our own backyard. The spot we found to pull over was actually a park that was technically closed, even though the gates had not been pulled shut, so we spent the entire 5 minutes that we stayed there worried that someone was going to come close the gates on us or get us in trouble for being there. So, we decided to drive back home and watch the stars from there. Maybe next year I’ll travel further to find a better stargazing spot!
Ride bikes
My husband and I loaded up our bikes (which we use maybe twice a year, haha) and spend a morning biking on a local “rails to trails” path. There was even an ice cream shop that we stopped at along the path, which makes it one of my favorite local trails.
Eat dinner outside
Ever since I had string lights installed on our patio last year, I love eating outside in the evenings when it’s nice out. If you have an outdoor patio, I highly recommend installing some string lights so that you can enjoy the magic of twinkle lights, which instantly improves any outdoor dining experience.
Play a card game outside
This was definitely not a one-time thing, because my husband and I love to play all sorts of games and, if the game is portable enough (like a card game), we always try to play it outside on the patio if it’s nice out (for me ,summer is really just about spending as much time outside as possible!).
Learn to roller skate
This DID NOT happen, and was the only thing left unchecked on my list (the perfectionist in me is cringing). I wanted to intentionally leave this on the list just to show you that making these fun little bucket lists are still so, so worth doing even if you don’t check off every single thing! The last few weeks of the summer were so much more fun because I decided to do this list - even if I didn’t get to roller skating! To be totally honest - I actually did order roller skates and put them on (I even stood up in them), but it was entirely too scary for me so I promptly took them off and shipped them back and decided that perhaps I will be braver next year. I always like to choose my battles wisely, and this particular fear (fear of falling) is not something that needs to be dealt with quite yet. It’s okay to still have stuff you’re afraid of, working through, and just not ready to face yet. So that’s my long-winded way of saying that I did not, in fact, learn to roller skate.
Now I’m off to go make one for fall! 🍁 Would love to hear your ideas on how you make the most of each season and what some of your favorite fall activities are - I need some ideas so drop them in the comments below! :)
Stay curious,
Abigail
Thanks for reading Perception Playground! This post is public so feel free to share it.
No posts
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.