Here we are, staring at three months of sun, long evenings, and plenty of ways to spend your time. Don’t let this time slip away without a plan; make yourself a summer bucket list and you’ll swing into the season with some great stories and a bit more character under your belt. The key to a proper list is this: it must be achievable, but just a bit over the top. Stretch yourself to really find a few things worth doing, and go from there. I always like to mix some memorable fun in with some character development, because I want to enjoy the ride but be a better version of myself because of it.

So, dig deep and take the time to invest in yourself. You’ll end up heading into the cold weather ready to tell the stories of a season well spent. Here’s my list for the next few months:

Raft a river Swim at least 2 miles Run a race (5-10k, half marathon) Climb a mountain to the top Drive to a town I’ve never been Attend an event I would never normally go Learn something new Teach something new Volunteer with a cause I care about Skydive Go camping in the woods at least twice Sleep in the car somewhere Buy something really nice Give something really nice as a gift Start a new tradition Clean the house and get rid of at least 100 things Find out what type of exercise I really like, and commit to do it regularly Eat something new Go out to coffee with five of my local heroes or idols Make something I can be proud of Go somewhere memorable with my dad (or uncle, or brother) Write down a big goal and demolish it Research and invest in one good stock or mutual fund Upgrade at least five essential pieces of my wardrobe Read five books about something new

I’ll report back at the end of the year with an update on how close I landed on my list, but in the meantime, I’d love to hear about your plans for the long summer days and the goals you plan to crush along the way.

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