A few random thoughts for the last Friday in June(!)…
- That actually makes me think that I should share this thought first… I (and, I think a lot of people) put so much pressure on myself to pack everything good into the summer months. For me, that’s mid-May-ish through mid-August, based on my academic calendar. And at this point in the summer – nearly halfway through – I feel as though I haven’t accomplished, well, anything. Which makes me think… why do we do this to ourselves? Why do I tell myself that I MUST go to the local Arboretum (which is, apparently, lovely) this summer? Why can’t I go in September? I know that the weather limits some opportunities, but it doesn’t mean that I can’t keep doing things that fill my professional and personal cup throughout the year. The challenge, of course, is maintaining that mindset when the chaos of the academic year starts.
- I have a family member dealing with some health challenges, and it has reminded me of just how hard it is to be this far from them. I am always aware of it, but these kinds of things just bring it to the forefront of my mind. I wish I could be there for them. Sigh.
- I wrote up a day in the life post to share, then realized that before I do that, I should maybe write something about, well, how my job differs from other jobs. This has been a challenge for me throughout my working life as an academic. Even my spouse and my parents have difficulty understanding *why* my work life is the way it is, and why it is so all-consuming. And yet, it’s completely normal for people who have similar jobs. Anyway, you’ll all think I’m bonkers if I post that day in the life without some context, I suspect. So that’s next on the list. 🙂
- I learned this week that there is, apparently, a really excellent mini golf course about 10 minutes from me. Huh. Who knew? (Clearly, not me…) Unfortunately, solo mini golf is not appealing so I need to find someone to drag with me. Ha.
- The one thing on this summer’s list that’s non-negotiable? Getting some custard, for the love of pete. I live in Wisconsin. Land of frozen custard. There are so many options to choose from, and yet most summers I don’t indulge. Time to change that. Maybe I should make it a goal for each weekend – try a different frozen custard place. That seems a worthy goal. Maybe more achievable than the mini golf goal…
Sorry for the boring randomness. Feel free to come back when I share something more interesting. 😉
Yes, you must get custard!
I hope your family member gets better soon.
Re: #1. Once I started working full time, the entire year, that feeling of needing to fill my summer with all the fun stuff ended – I realized I could do it year long. And, I realized I could do fun summer-y stuff when the warm weather continues in September because nothing had changed about my schedule. I hope you can find a bit of that, although if your work day is all time consuming and all day long, maybe not!
You’re right – custard is non-negotiable! Time to start making that list. Ha.
I like your perspective that *nothing will have changed* when September comes around. And it’s warm right through October most years!
I think one challenge I’m having this year is that – other than the short road trip I took last month – I don’t have a vacation or other “designated” time to do fun stuff. It’s almost easier when you can focus on that for a period of time, whether it’s a weekend or a week or more than that. Even my work-related activities were supposed to be fun this summer – conference in Ireland (now virtual, sigh) and a two-week course that I take in Maine every chance I get (also virtual, sigh again).
I hope I can change my mindset to be more like yours. 🙂
I can relate so much to what you say about making the best out of the good weather days. I don’t stress about having to do a lot of things, but more that when the weather is good I need to go out, because who knows when we’ll get a day like that again? And it’s fine, unless I have a lot of work to do! Last summer was quite miserable so I decided that if the weather was finally good, I would drop everything and go out. And I did! I had some good times, and luckily I had no paid work to do.
Exactly! It’s that tension between “I have these things to do” vs. “But will it be this nice tomorrow?” I do largely set my own schedule / to do list, so it should be relatively easy for me to shift things from one day to another. As I’m a creature of habit and routine, though, that can be challenging, to say the least! I appreciate your live in the moment approach, and think I need to adopt a similar one!
I really feel you on #1, particularly this year for me. Since we just moved to a new state I feel like I need to get out and see everything and do everything right away…and hopefully not get burnt out in the process. Frozen custard sounds amazing right now, maybe after that round of mini golf 🙂
It’s hard to balance, isn’t it? And yes, moving to a new place will totally ramp up the pressure. I always struggle with wanting to explore more vs. getting my home situation settled, when I move. (I haven’t had to in 4 years, which is approaching a record for me…) I didn’t get custard Sunday, as planned, as the weather was terrible, but it is supposed to be hot this weekend and I’m thinking a trip to the custard stand might be in order. 😉
I am so sorry about your family member. As you know, I understand that feelings surrounding a life far from family all too well and while most of the days, we can ‘cope’ okay, a health scare always puts things into perspective. I hope they are okay and that you can visit again soon.
I am super-curious about your day in the life post. I find it so interesting how different people’s day-to-day lives are 🙂
Thanks, San. I know that you are far from your family, and much farther than I am from mine. Like you said, it’s things like this that make it more difficult to live my everyday life, knowing that someone I love is having challenges and I can’t be there to help. I was hoping to go visit them at the end of the summer, but that’s looking less and less likely, unfortunately.
I think it is SO interesting how we all have such different ways of approaching our days! And yet, somehow, for the most part, we get along! It’s coming – but I do want to do the “my job is weird” post first. Ha.
I, too, live in Wisconsin. Here’s my hot take: Culver’s is gross and frozen custard is subpar to frozen yogurt and ice cream. I ready to take any fire you throw in my direction.
I’m with you on ice cream – I eat it every night. Year round. A day is not a day without ice cream. 😉
That said, I do appreciate GOOD custard as its own thing. Custard is not ice cream is not custard. (Truth: I grew up on the east coast, where they look askance at anything that is not “real ice cream”. They also have no idea that custard is different from ice cream.)
Frozen yogurt? I could take or leave it. I like it when it actually tastes like yogurt – with some zip to it. When it’s really just downgraded ice cream, though? No thanks.
OK, so favorite ice cream place in WI??? I’m willing to schlep, if necessary…