Don’t Waste Your Summer

Dear 9-14 year olds,

have you been hoping for a summer at camp? Dreaming of days out in a kayak? Visualizing days out at the movies with your friends? As great as that is, I have learned from experience that your mental pictures and dreams rarely turn out exactly the way you want. If that makes you feel low, then this fact will deal the finishing blow: most of the time, these plans are what make it hard to have fun and experience true satisfaction.

Not that it’s bad to have dreams. It’s great, in fact. But if your dream was to go ziplining and you’re bummed out because you’re going to the pool, that’s really making yourself miss out, right? ‘Cuz, who knows? Maybe at the pool you would’ve laughed and splashed, but instead you sat around feeling depressed.

To tell the absolute truth, that was me. I watched my sisters have fun in the pool while I just sat moping. (Again to tell the absolute truth, I didn’t like the idea of getting my hair wet, being a wet surface for trash to stick to, or just the thought of what was in that water, but I digress.) You could really miss out on great things, kids, if you stay boxed into your vision of the perfect summer.

I suggest you keep track of the things you do this summer, even if it’s not exactly what you wanted. So far, I’ve done my own hair, gone to VBS, had a movie night with Kayden, had a Sibs Hangout, and more. Let your heart overflow with gratefulness at the daily things, things you can do for free, things you can do that bring you joy while you wait for the big things. Honestly, enjoying the small things makes you even more grateful for the big things. Believe me.

Have a great summer, guys. A day is only great if you decide it is, so decide every day that today is great. After awhile, it won’t seem fake anymore.

‘K, bye!

-Dai

#summer #summerfun