I was sitting with my sons the other night when my son Paul shared something rather cool with us.
He put together a list of things he wanted to do before the end of the summer and decided to call it his “Summer Bucket List”
It sort of brought me back to when I was his age and all the things I wanted to do each time a brand spanking new summer presented itself.
His list captured the true essence of summer in my opinion because the list didn’t rely on mucho dinero to finance the list . . . the list was simply a collection of moments he wanted to have before the end of the summer.
So Saturday night I decided to get cracking on my own list and had a blast.
One of my items was to simply get the ice man and enjoy some ice cream out on the patio at least once. Well I no sooner put that bad boy on my list when low and freakin behold, the ice cream man ventured down my block.
Note: Could you imagine the feeling of dying and going to Ice Cream Man heaven when a fat dude comes running out of his backyard waving cash at you?
The next thing you know I was crossing an item off my list while catching myself totally digging the moment.
Then I added things like . . .
Having a backyard campout with one of my sons
Learning to cook 5 new summer dishes
Going fishing
Catching a sunrise and a sunset at the beach.
Etc
It was a fun process and it helped me feel in control of my summer. More importantly, it helped me create the balance I know I need to sustain my life’s journey.
And just like my son’s list, mine doesn’t require lots of money.
So today is all about giving yourself the gift of planning some memories for you and your family and then . . .
Living them as though this will be your last summer.
Do this every summer knowing that one summer you’re going to be right.
So what’s on your Summer Bucket List my friend?
Paul Castain trains individuals and teams to be lethal. For more information on how you can work with this Jedi, by all means click here
Children really know what is the most important thing.
We adults get to caught up with monetary goals, career goals and so on, they stay in the relationship goals and the life goals.
They set goals that really mean something, goals that can change a life.
I think the goals you came up with are great and I am sure you will have an awesome summer.
Thanks Daniel . . . I like the balancing benefit of adding these types of
things to our overall plan.
The hidden benefit is the strengthening of our goal setting muscles that we can re apply to all those monetary, career goals etc.
Thanks again!
Children really know what is the most important thing.
We adults get to caught up with monetary goals, career goals and so on, they stay in the relationship goals and the life goals.
They set goals that really mean something, goals that can change a life.
I think the goals you came up with are great and I am sure you will have an awesome summer.
Thanks Daniel . . . I like the balancing benefit of adding these types of
things to our overall plan.
The hidden benefit is the strengthening of our goal setting muscles that we can re apply to all those monetary, career goals etc.
Thanks again!
Best things in life are free: the beauty of nature and the joy of good company. Hope your summer will be filled with both Paul. Oh, and ice cream of course.
All the best,
Wim
So true Wim . . . thank you!
Best things in life are free: the beauty of nature and the joy of good company. Hope your summer will be filled with both Paul. Oh, and ice cream of course.
All the best,
Wim
So true Wim . . . thank you!
Great idea! I’m going to make mine tonight!
That’s the spirit Elena!
Great idea Paul Before we know it the summer is over and we are lamenting that it got away from us. I like the idea of taking control of our summer.
Thanks for the image of Ice Cream Man Heaven!
Beth
You know, it’s funny Beth, every year at this time it feels like we have all this time; then we blink our eyes and it’s over.
Great idea Paul Before we know it the summer is over and we are lamenting that it got away from us. I like the idea of taking control of our summer.
Thanks for the image of Ice Cream Man Heaven!
Beth
You know, it’s funny Beth, every year at this time it feels like we have all this time; then we blink our eyes and it’s over.
Paul,
Fun ideas work with business relationships too… since I sold to new car dealers for 30 yrs, I would always plan as many “cook-outs” at the dealer sales throughout the summer…
now the “cook-outs” were not for their customers but for the salesman working the weekend sales… so my list was always how many of these “cook-outs” I could schedule…most of the time I cooked up brats and burgers on a portable charcoal grille… ya know one of the guy things.
But an ice cream truck would be a fun idea to take to your customers too…summer food fun is great.
Every sales person should have a summer bucket list to serve up to their customers…John
BTW … brats is a Wisconsin favorite and we had a big event this weekend
http://www.bratfest.com/brat-411/
What a great way to serve up some fun at work John
What a great way to serve up some fun at work John
Paul,
Fun ideas work with business relationships too… since I sold to new car dealers for 30 yrs, I would always plan as many “cook-outs” at the dealer sales throughout the summer…
now the “cook-outs” were not for their customers but for the salesman working the weekend sales… so my list was always how many of these “cook-outs” I could schedule…most of the time I cooked up brats and burgers on a portable charcoal grille… ya know one of the guy things.
But an ice cream truck would be a fun idea to take to your customers too…summer food fun is great.
Every sales person should have a summer bucket list to serve up to their customers…John
BTW … brats is a Wisconsin favorite and we had a big event this weekend
http://www.bratfest.com/brat-411/
What a great way to serve up some fun at work John
What a great way to serve up some fun at work John
it is winter down here in South Africa but what the hell, I am putting together a winter bucket list to prepare for my summer bucket list to come in October
We should compare lists Jeff this way we can stay ahead of it 🙂
Wishing you a happy winter Jeff!
That’s the spirit Elena!
Paul – Great post!! For the past 4 years my wife and I have played Mixed Tennis during the summer. So, for 8 straight Saturdays in June/July we tied up our day playing and sweating (and having fun) but it left us exhausted and always telling the girls “Dad’s tired” or “My back hurts” or “Maybe we’ll do it next weekend sweetie”. Well, last month we decided to not sign-up this year and we’re BOTH looking forward to getting our summer back and start working on that list.
Now that sounds like a great plan Lee!
Wishing you an awesome summer my friend!
Now that sounds like a great plan Lee!
Wishing you an awesome summer my friend!
We should compare lists Jeff this way we can stay ahead of it 🙂
Wishing you a happy winter Jeff!
Paul
–Catch the Air and Water show on my daughter’s roof top in Chicago.
–A Brat on the grill and sweet corn
–A bike ride along Lake Shore Drive
–Catch the fireworks at Navy Pier
–Golf with my wife and son
–Golf at the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Fundraiser
–Chill out on the patio with Friends
That’s a start
John
And a great start it is John!
I hope you get to check each and every one of these off the list!
Have a great summer!
Paul
–Catch the Air and Water show on my daughter’s roof top in Chicago.
–A Brat on the grill and sweet corn
–A bike ride along Lake Shore Drive
–Catch the fireworks at Navy Pier
–Golf with my wife and son
–Golf at the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Fundraiser
–Chill out on the patio with Friends
That’s a start
John
Love it- I need to slow down and take time to enjoy myself and family more. Who cares if there’s clean dishes in the dishwasher?
Now you’re talking Leslie . . . here’s to an awesome summer!
Love it- I need to slow down and take time to enjoy myself and family more. Who cares if there’s clean dishes in the dishwasher?
Now you’re talking Leslie . . . here’s to an awesome summer!
Kids really know what’s most important! We make lists for everything, but a summer list is definitely a great way to start your summer. My graduating senior probably already has his summer mapped out, he’s a planner, but my 12 year old will love this! They say when you have a planned vacation or fun time to look forward to, it makes everything enjoyable! Thanks Paul, and stop that Ice Cream truck!!
Very cool Cherie and next time I have an ice cream cone I will raise it to the west in your honor 🙂
Rock on!
Kids really know what’s most important! We make lists for everything, but a summer list is definitely a great way to start your summer. My graduating senior probably already has his summer mapped out, he’s a planner, but my 12 year old will love this! They say when you have a planned vacation or fun time to look forward to, it makes everything enjoyable! Thanks Paul, and stop that Ice Cream truck!!
Very cool Cherie and next time I have an ice cream cone I will raise it to the west in your honor 🙂
Rock on!
Paul,
Thanks for sharing a great moment! My wife and I just got back from So Cal watching our Grandson graduate High School! From a NASA hangar complete with 2 F-18’s inside (My son works at Edwards Air Force base)!
Summer Bucket list is a great idea!
Cheers,
Larry
Congratulations Larry . . . you must be quite the proud Grandpa!
Paul,
Thanks for sharing a great moment! My wife and I just got back from So Cal watching our Grandson graduate High School! From a NASA hangar complete with 2 F-18’s inside (My son works at Edwards Air Force base)!
Summer Bucket list is a great idea!
Cheers,
Larry
Congratulations Larry . . . you must be quite the proud Grandpa!
Paul, it is great that your son is committing goals to paper. Good work Mom and Dad! I wouldn’t have minded seeing your son’s list…