50 Ways to have an Unforgettable Summer!

HELLO HELLO!!!  It's been almost eight thousand years since I've written anything and I promise to never leave you all for that long ever again (I hope).  But I have officially finished my first year of university and despite the fact that I will be starting summer school and work soon, I will have a lot more time to write posts.

Anyway, since there are four months for us Uni and College kids before school picks up again, I thought I would give you some suggestions on how to spend the summa.  I know that high school students still have a couple of months before their summer begins, but it is never too early to get excited for those hot summer months, and the possibilities that come with them.  Some of these suggestions are most likely what you were already planning on doing this year, but others will hopefully help you get out of your comfort zone, give you some alternatives to your typical routine, and have the BEST summer ever yay!

In no particular order, here are my FIFTY suggestions for spending this summer vacation.

Summer vacation is full of opportunities...how are you going to spend yours? 

Photo from Pinterest 

1. Teach yourself a new language via Google, Rosetta Stone, or even a phone or iPad app.

2. Read at least three books from totally different genres 

3. Muster up the courage to talk to the cute guy or girl at the coffee shop (or confess your love to someone you do know) - and if they don't feel the same way, you have 2 - 4 months to pretend nothing happened ha (just kidding)

4. Do a run or walk for charity - there are so many fun charity walks that you can participate in teams, while also raising money for a cause you really believe in.

5. Spend an entire day doing absolutely nothing - but not, like, everyday...

6. Start a DIY project - cut your jeans, decorate a mug, get creative!  There are so many ideas you can search up on Pinterest.

7. Spend the day with yourself - go to the library, visit a museum or art gallery and become a lil more cultured (or just go to the mall and shop until your heart's content because you really cannot go wrong with that)

8. Go to dinner or a party with the members of all your different friend groups - it might be kind of awkward hanging out with your friends from camp, school, church and your soccer team all at once, but their different experiences and personalities can make for an unpredictable and interesting night

9. Cook an entire three course meal - yes, you'll probably be in the kitchen all day, but the sense of accomplishment you'll feel when you've finished cooking an appetizer, main course, and dessert, will make it all worth it

10. Do something active - and by active, I mean skipping dinner or the movies to play laser tag, go go-carting or paint balling, and get sweaty and even a little messy

11. Have a grade-school style slumber party - complete with pajamas, magazines, nail polish, and a solid game of Truth or Dare (which will probably be juicier now that we're older than 10 years old)

12. Wear something embarrassing out in public, and see what kinds of reactions you get - this for the people who are don't care what anyone thinks, or those who want to stop caring

13. Pull an all-nighter - stay up from the moment the sun goes down, all the way until sunrise the next day

14. Perform a random act of kindness - or many acts of kindness

15. Go to a public event in your area - this could include a sporting event, a music festival, or a carnival

16. Spend the day with your parents doing what they want to do - go grocery shopping, help them run errands,go to the movies; earn your title as Son or Daughter of the Year

17. Don't check your social media accounts for a whole day - and try not to roll over a die...I believe in you!

18. Go on an evening walk or bike ride with a friend around your neighbourhood - the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors and good conversation is when the sun starts to set and the air starts to cool down

19. Have a movie or TV series marathon - choose a series on Netflix or buy a bunch of five dollar movies from Walmart or Target, and park yourself on the couch or in bed with an abundance of food by your side

20. Go to the beach - spend the day frolicking in the water, playing a game of beach volleyball, and having some fun in the sun

21. Go downtown and visit the more obscure and unique shops - support entrepreneurs who are offering one of a kind items and yummy food

22. Go to a local farmer's market - nothing's better than waking up early on a Saturday morning, buying fresh produce, and socializing with the residents of your community

23. Rekindle a friendship - call (or text...or Facebook message...or direct message...) someone you used to be close with, and even if you don't necessarily "rekindle" the relationship you once had, enjoy a nice conversation with an old friend

24. Get a job - because a lot of these suggestions are gonna cost ya!

25. Make your own cocktails or mocktails and sip them on the porch or patio - homemade popsicles work too

26. Go camping or have a bonfire with a bunch of friends - going camping is still one of my favourite memories and best experiences of my life, and I recommend it 100%

27. Get ready to go out using ONLY Youtube tutorials - we all watch beauty and hair tutorials, but almost never actually try them out...this is your chance

28. Eat something you swore you'd never try - or do something you swore you'd never do, because realistically, I would try any food once

29. Redecorate your room - or your Tumblr, or any type of redecorating

30. Go on a long drive to nowhere in particular and see where you end up

31. Make a new friend - and make the effort to keep them!

32. Go thrifting - don't just buy second hand clothes from the same stores you already shop in...try to find something different or vintage (or something that looks cool and vintage, same thing)

33. Splurge on something you've always wanted - provided you have or got that job I suggested earlier

34. Buy new music - purchase your favourite artist's new album and fall in love all over again

35. Take a class at the community centre - register for cooking, or ballroom, or guitar, or basketball

36. Have a Dare Night - gather up your friends, get into groups of four or five, dress up in matching outfits and complete a set of dares before the end of the night

37. Visit a theme or water park 

38. Learn about a different culture - find out about their customs, rituals, and traditional dishes

39. Go on a last minute getaway or road trip - if you have the funds, why not spend the weekend (or longer) away in a different city, province, or state

40. Hold family or friend Game Night - complete with classic board games, Twister, and those wizard and dragon games like in that one episode of Lizzie McGuire (thumbs up if you know what I'm talking about)

41. Watch all of your Disney movies - because every kid born in the 90's or later has an extensive collection of Disney films that need some lovin'

42. Throw or go to a house party - but be safe and responsible *mom voice*

43. Exercise - because I had to add this on the list (how are your New Year's Resolutions going, by the way??)

44. Strike up a conversation with a stranger - a simple conversation with someone in line at Starbucks or the supermarket can actually make someone's day...even yours!

45. Go on a late night trip to get fast food or candy - for some reason, places like McDonald's and Walmart are so much more fun at 3 am

46. Volunteer - find an organization or even a company that you really admire, and see if you help out by giving up your time for free

47. Update your wardrobe - as I said, you can't go wrong with shopping

48. Try to laugh at something (or with someone) every single day - enough laughter can even burn calories so that's a win-win

49. Record your memories in a journal; on little pieces of paper you stick in a jar and read later; or in the form of a picture or video diary

50. Be a yes (wo)man - spend the summer saying "yes" to things you normally wouldn't, and put yourself in situations where you can learn, grow, meet new people, try new things, gain new experiences and perspectives, and have the best times of your life

How do you plan on spending your summer?

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.  Have a wonderful week!

Why Aren't More of us Happy? Tips on How to Fill Your Year with a Little More Happiness

Recently, I've been seeing more and more posts on social media about happiness, and people's desire to be happy, so I've decided to write a post to address this.  And although I am by no means a psychologist, I would like to think that I have some insight into happiness and joy, simply because I experienced moving from feeling sad, fatigued and unconfident almost three years ago, to how I feel now: positive, cheerful, and truly happy with my life.  This is not because something happened to change my life, but because I changed how I saw it.  I realized that happiness is a state of mind.

For this reason, I am going to provide some tips (based solely on my experience) on how to help you end this year much happier and full of of joy than you started.  

This line from the song Pretty Hurts really stood out to me.  In addition to a career, family and money, being happy is what many people aspire to be in the future.  

1. Choose to be happy.

Happiness is a continual choice...keep choosing it!

I think one of the misconceptions people may have is that they need something or someone to make them happy, but in reality, it is 100% a choice.  And it's a continual choice that doesn't necessarily take action over night.  You may have to remind yourself of that choice every single morning before getting out of bed, and even throughout the day, but when negative thoughts enter your mind, it is important to stay strong and honour your decision.  This is where some may have a hard time, because there are so many reasons to fall back into a sad, unhappy, or even depressed state.  However, if you make the decision over and over again, eventually you won't have to think about it; it will just be your natural state of mind.  Also realize that without this crucial choice, none of the other tips will be as effective in bringing long-term contentment to your life.

2. Tell the people that are closest to you.

These words are all positive things that may result from telling your loved ones. (This photo was taken from here)

A drastic change in your thoughts, mood, and attitude toward things you used to enjoy may cause family and friends to think you're overreacting or being dramatic--especially if they weren't aware or experienced what you went through.  But everyone is different.  Try to explain to your close friends and family what happened and how you feel about it in the best way you can.  That way, they will understand why you may be acting differently, and try to help you get through this time.

3. Go on a vacation or trip.

Whether it is to a beach in another country, or a local park or café, getting away from your situation can give you time to think more clearly, put things into perspective, and face your situation when you return. 

(Both of these photos were taken by my friend Warren.  To see more, follow him here!)

In the midst of my severe unhappiness, my mom and I went on vacation to see our family.  I knew I'd enjoy my time away from home, but I was in for a lot more than that.  I learned that there is so much more to life than the circumstance I was going through.  There was so much more to see, so much more to do, and so much to be happy and thankful for.  Getting away from the person, place, or thing that is making you sad, and having a good time with people who do make you happy may give you the strength to handle your situation head-on and with better insight when you return.  It may also cause you to realize that you should leave certain issues in the past, and that they don't deserve your time or effort.  If you can't afford an extravagant vacation, try going on a road trip, a weekend getaway, or even to your favourite place in order to get away.

4. Write in a journal or start a blog.

Find time to write things down, so you are able to see how far you've come in the future! 

(This photo is from here, and is a part of an interesting article about journaling.)

Writing down your feelings, emotions and experiences on paper or a blog can act as an effective outlet.  Document your highs as well as your lows.  If you can't sleep, write down your thoughts, dreams, and aspirations.  Allow yourself to get deep...and dark.  Don't be ashamed of what you have to say.  You don't even have to read over any of your entries.  However, when you do decide to read your journal or blog, hopefully you'll be able to see the improvements you made, and be proud of how far you've come since your first entry.  Don't limit yourself to a journal: create art, write music, listen to music, start a video diary, cook, bake, exercise, or take classes that interest you.  Do anything that allows you to express yourself, release any animosity, and get you back to enjoying fun activities...and life.

5. Figure out what's best for you.

Do you feel better when you are going out with friends....

(Find this photo here.)

....or staying home and relaxing with a good book?

(Find this photo here.)

During this time, some may feel overwhelmed being around a lot of people and choose to be alone, while others may want to surround themselves with friends and loved ones to help them forget about what they are going through.  My advice is to see how you feel in both situations. Do you like having time alone to figure out your next step in this journey toward happiness, or do you find yourself thinking about how sad you are when you are by youself?  Do your friends help you get your mind off of your situation and genuinely make you feel good, or do you feel lonelier than ever when you are in a crowd?  Really consider this, and figure out what you like better, and then do this as much as you can.  Don't get carried away.  Remember that you shouldn't isolate yourself from others, but also shouldn't spend every moment with someone else; you still need some time alone to reflect.

6. Seek help!

Stay strong, keep calm, and seek help! (This photo is from here.)

As I said earlier, these tips are not medical--I don't have a university degree, never mind a PhD.  If you truly do not feel like yourself, and have felt this way off and on or for a prolonged amount of time, see a doctor.  If loved ones are concerned, you may owe it to them and yourself to look deeper, and see what is going on from a clinical perspective.  Your situation may have triggered something more serious and long-term (such as depression, mood disorders, anxiety, and even medical illness), and you should seek help.  Remember that getting help is not a sign of weakness; it shows that you value yourself enough to be your best self.  Try to be strong and courageous, as opposed to afraid or embarrassed.  You can do it!

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to tips for leading a happier life, but I hope you try some of them!  However, if you feel like you or someone close to you may be struggling with depression or any other mental illness, visit the Canadian Mental Health Association or Mental Health America website, or contact your local associations for further information and assistance.  

Make sure to check me out on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.  Have a wonderful week!

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