I recently got an email from a clothing store I love with the subject line, “How to Have Zero Summer Regrets,” which got me thinking- we really glorify summer. There are so many positives about summer, but we forget about the sunburn, scorching humidity, mosquitoes.
We read articles about “Your Best Summer Yet,” but articles about winter instead identify how to survive, make the best/most of the season. This puts a TON of pressure on us to make the most of every summer minute, and if someone feels like they aren’t doing this, anxiety ensues. We compare our internal experience to other people’s external experience (posted on social media, of course). I spoke with a teacher-friend recently who told me she had all these plans for the summer and none of them materialized; maybe this is OK.
Don’t get me wrong– I love a good poolside BBQ as much as the next person (and, if I’m honest: I love not having to deal with coats & carseats), but there is more to life than summer. So, think: what does a “good summer” mean for you? It doesn’t have to be the same as your BFF’s.
(And, I’m pretty sure buying a dress from LOFT won’t necessarily mean you have zero regrets. However, if you spend a lot of your time online and watching TV, you could. Choose wisely.)