Reviving the Ghost of Summer Vacations Past

Written by: Kenzie

The first official day of summer (June 21 for those that are curious) may not have passed yet, but summer has definitely arrived here in Texas. It's not to the three-digit heat of mid-August yet - thank God - but the temperatures are rising and the days are long, so I say it's summer.

I was thinking the other day that I wished the summer season was still equivalent to summer vacation like back in the old days. I say the old days but I really mean two years ago when I was still in school and especially five years ago when I was still in high school. 

Summer vacation meant road trips with friends and family vacations out-of-state. It meant staying up late in the thick night air watching the sky and sleeping until the sun woke you up. It meant long days at the pool or lake to escape the heat, the sun making you tired in the best possible way. Summer vacation meant three months of freedom from your student responsibilities and it meant endless possibilities to fill your days.

Now that I'm in the workforce, the summer season just means the same old shit except it's hotter than Hades and you sweat your makeup off.

But maybe it doesn't have to.

Why should working stop me from making the most of the free time that I do have? I often get burnt out from work which is sad because I haven't even been working at the same place for a year yet. However, I do get up at 4:30 in the morning and am on my feet all day and don't take breaks so maybe that has something to do with it. When I get home, I typically sit on the couch, watch some Netflix, and get on Instagram.

Let this post be my unofficial vow to stop this pattern. Sure, some days I will veg out on the couch and that's okay. But most days, I'll try to make this summer like my old summer vacations. Maybe I won't take elaborate vacations out-of-state, but I can still go on weekend road trips. I can still lay in the sun by the Blue Lagoon in Huntsville or go on a nature hike. I can still do afternoon projects and rekindle that freedom and curiosity brought on by summer vacations in the past.

If you're in the same boat as me, follow the lead of your captain (me). She doesn't know much, but she's willing to try. And that's what counts.

Let me know how you fill your days after work and what weekend adventures you're planning to get me inspired.