A Summer Worth Remembering
I thought I knew what last Sunday’s plan would be. The forecast called for rain. I had a long list of things I needed to do before Monday morning: there was work to prepare for, emails to answer, and all the usual tasks that seem to fill a Sunday afternoon.
But then the sun came out.
I called my Mom and we decided to do something completely unplanned and went golfing.
Out on the course, nothing extraordinary happened. We didn't break any records. We didn’t engage in any profound conversations. But somewhere between the sunshine, the fresh air, and the simple joy of being together, I found myself thinking: This is the kind of afternoon I'll remember.
And that's when it hit me.
By the time you're reading this, the Fourth of July will be here. Summer feels endless when it begins, doesn’t it? But somehow, every year, Labor Day arrives much faster than we expect.
The truth is that most summers disappear in a blur of obligations, errands, work, and routines. We keep waiting for the memorable moments. But often, the moments we remember most are the ones we choose to create.
Not the expensive ones. Not the elaborate ones.
The simple ones:
An ice cream cone after dinner.
A walk around the neighborhood on a cool evening.
A round of golf with your mom.
A T-ball game.
A concert on the town green.
An afternoon spent reading a novel instead of scrolling headlines.
Coffee on the porch before everyone wakes up.
Picking tomatoes from your garden.
A dinner outside on your back deck.
Most of these moments have something in common: They don't happen because they're scheduled six months in advance. They happen because someone decides to just say yes.
Yes to the weather. Yes to the invitation. Yes to leaving the dishes in the sink for another hour.
Yes to the experience.
As a financial planner, I spend a lot of time helping people prepare for the future. That's important work.
But there's another side to planning that doesn't get enough attention. Planning a life you actually enjoy living. And not someday.
How about right now?
The older I get, the more I realize that memorable summers aren't built from one big vacation. Nope. Instead, they're built from dozens of small moments that seem ordinary while they're happening.
Until later. Then they become the stories we remember.
So, if you're looking for a challenge this month, don't make it complicated. Create a Summer List. Not a to-do list. Create a memory list, filled with things you'd genuinely like to experience before Labor Day.
Maybe it's:
Read three great beach books.
Visit a farmer’s market.
Eat ice cream for dinner.
Watch fireworks!
Spend an afternoon with someone you love.
Leave your phone inside for a few hours.
Take the scenic route home.
Keep it simple. Keep it realistic. And most importantly, don't wait for the perfect time.
Because the summers we remember aren't usually the ones that happened to us.
They're the ones we participated in.
Summer is already underway. Make sure you're fully participating in it.
Remember, it doesn't need to be extraordinary to be memorable. Sometimes all it takes is saying yes to a sunny Sunday afternoon that wasn't supposed to happen.
This Week’s Cool Ideas & Resources
The Summer Book
The Summer Book is an old, beautiful, quiet novel about slowing down, paying attention, and appreciating simple moments. The stories center around a six-year-old girl and her grandmother. It’s a perfect reminder that ordinary days often become our favorite memories. Add it to your summer reading list!
Libby
Speaking of books, did you know you can borrow e-books and audiobooks from your local library for free? (I didn’t! And now I’m hooked!) Load up a few summer novels in your app, and replace some scrolling with a good listen. All you need to do is get your library card handy, and then simply click here to sign up.
Somebody Feed Phil
If you're looking for something comforting, funny, and genuinely uplifting, try watching Somebody Feed Phil. In each episode, Phil Rosenthal travels to a different city, eating great food and meeting locals with such enthusiasm and kindness that it feels less like a travel show and more like spending time with a very charming friend who reminds you that the world is still full of delight. You can enjoy it on Netflix here.
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