What’s a foolproof way to make your summer memorable?
Get a face tattoo.
Kidding.
When we get to the end of our lives, the things that seem to matter most are the scenes. The adventures we shared with our partners in crime. The inside jokes and games we played and memories we made with the people we love.
I’m not sure what it is about summer, but it seems to be the season most disposed to memory making and nostalgic reflection. Maybe it’s Bryan Adams‘ fault.
In any case, one should never let a summer go by without making sure it’s jammed with good memories. Curiously, I think we overestimate what’s required to make it happen.
For one, it doesn’t have to be overly organized. We used Facebook to ask people their favorite thing to do outside as a kid, and not one person mentioned anything about an organized sport. Which was interesting to me, as organized sports are often are the biggest culprit in creating summer clutter and busyness.
Secondly, money isn’t a major factor either. Although one might consider a trip to Disney World a slam dunk memory machine, it just isn’t so. Dave Ramsey asked his community about their best summertime memories, and Disney World wasn’t mentioned once.
In both discussions, things like climbing trees, family game and movie nights, playing freeze tag, homemade popsicles, swinging on a tire swing, exploring nature, building forts, catching tadpoles or fireflies, family bike rides, campouts and campfires, parades, fireworks, and day trips to lakes were the activities that made the list and resulted in lifelong memories.
Here’s the truth: The absolute BEST way to make your summer memorable is to spend a lot of quality time with the people you care about.
But keep in mind that five minutes of “quality” time often requires fifty minutes of “quantity” time.
The good news is that none of this requires a large quantity of moolah.