“Which way?” (photo credit: Grace Church)

Week #154 – Summer Fun: Play Tourist…in Your Hometown!

Greetings, All — and Happy Friday!!!

We have been counting down the Fridays to Labor Day Weekend with some short “Summer Fun” suggestions.  Because —  as I’ve said each week — while most adults have been sure to plan their kids’ summer fun, they often overlook their own!

And with only two Fridays left to go…I want to make sure you’ve had some fun too!

But with summer practice sessions kicking in and some kids already back to school — the idea of a one-tank trip may be fading fast in the rear-view mirror.  So this is a great time to tighten your radius — and look for adventure in your own backyard!

Here are some ideas:

History – Do you know the origin of your town, who founded it, and how it came to be?  Don’t let these details slip by you!  Google your town’s name and learn a little bit about how it came into existence.  I live in the second largest city in the country — but I did this recently with the neighborhood I live in and uncovered a rich history of the missionaries, indigenous tribes, and the vegetation that gave my neighborhood it’s name!

Parks/Recreation – Have you visited all the public spaces in your town?  Do you even know they exist?  We tend to drive by these things on our way out to somewhere else (in my case, the beach!).  But again, in my exploration of my neighborhood here, I discovered an 18-mile long bike path, a dog park, a walking path, and a reservoir — all within a mile or so of where I live!

Attractions – We tend to take our own culture for granted — but chances are your town has a local museum, mill, farm, zoo, estate, party boat, monuments, architecture, town hall, or theater that holds some significance.  You may have lived there all your life and never set foot in those places.  Now is a good time!

Food/Drink – The lake town where I grew up is great for this!  Growing up — most of us felt like we needed to go somewhere else to enjoy a good meal.  Not always true!  Take note of the breakfast nooks, sit down restaurants, take-out counters, and ice cream stands in your area.  Get some good recommendations and then give them a try!  And don’t forget to look for craft breweries or wineries, too!

Scenery – If all else fails, get in the car and take a driving tour.  Go from one end of town to the other, around the lake, over that bridge, or down that one road you’ve never gone down before!  Chances are you will see something beautiful, something new, something you’ve never seen — and you just might be reminded of how lovely your little town really is!

Rock Hunting (photo credit: Grace Church)

Week #153 – Summer Fun: Spread Good Words!

Greetings, All — and Happy Friday!!!

We are counting down the Fridays between now and Labor Day Weekend with some short “Summer Fun” suggestions.  Because —  as I’ve said each week — while many adults are sure to plan their kids’ summer fun, they often overlook their own!

So I want to make sure you’re having fun too!

And given the events of this past week…that might seem silly or futile.  As I wrote last November…dissension and divide continue to dominate our news.  And it’s leaving many of us wondering what we can possibly do to make a difference in the world.

For two women on my Facebook feed this week…the answer was to spread goodness, one word at a time.

(I’m hoping to feature these ideas in more detail in the coming weeks as part of my Happyness in Action series.  But for now, and especially this week, I am very eager to share!)

TWO GREAT WAYS to spread good words in the week ahead!

1. Rock Painting/Hunting — A friend from home turned me on to this.  I’d been seeing her posting photos of cute little painted rocks — but it wasn’t until this week that I got the bigger picture.  She paints the rocks and then hides them in various locations in her county for other people to find.  This is part of a larger movement called “The Kindness Rocks Project” — which is apparently where it all started.  Chances are, someone in your county or region has a Facebook page set up to post pictures of painted rocks, hints about where they are hidden, and pictures of them being found.  The overall message is one of creativity, connection, and community.  And I cannot think of a better way to Spread Happyness than to plant a secret inspiring message for someone to find!  (And it looks like Michael’s stores will be hosting free rock painting on Saturday, August 19th and 26th as part of The Kindness Rocks Challenge!)

2. Sidewalk Chalking — Another Facebook friend (a mom in California) has been busy decluttering all summer.  Along the way, she discovered a bunch of sidewalk chalk.  Rather than dump it, she opted to write inspirational messages to her kids as they started school this week (California starts early, apparently!) — and she invited other parents in her neighborhood to do the same!  The result — kids on their way to/from school were inundated by messages of love, encouragement, and wise advice as they began a new school year.  This would work great for high school parking lots as well!

What other ways could you spread words of love, encouragement, advice, or support this week?

“County Fair” (photo credit: Grace Church)

Week #152 – Summer Fun: “Take your baby to the carnival…” (…or fair, or farm and horse show!)

Greetings, All — and Happy Friday!!!

We are counting down the Fridays between now and Labor Day Weekend with some short “Summer Fun” suggestions.  Because —  as I’ve said each week — while many adults are busy planning their kids’ summer fun, they often overlook their own!

So I want to make sure you’re having fun too!

And this week, I am headed to the FAIR!!!

It’s that time of year for county fairs or farm and horse shows.  And no matter how magical Disney may be, or how great an adventure Six Flags is…there is nothing like staying local and taking in your town’s carnival, county fair, or farm and horse show!

And while you’re there, don’t forget to RIDE the RIDES!!!  You can get some scream therapy on a roller coaster, battle it out on bumper cars, let loose on the swings, or laugh yourself silly on the Rock-n-Roll Express.

But if you find yourself saying, “I’ll wait right here…” — take that as a cue to buy yourself a ticket, a token, or a wristband and GET IN LINE!  It’s easy to sit back and watch…but it’s more fun to get over yourself, get in line, and be a kid again!  (Bonus — waiting on line with your spouse/kid/friend/loved-one offers great conversation time.)

James and I will be headed up to Ventura County Fair on Saturday to listen to some music, take a look at the livestock and garden displays, and watch a little bull riding!  We may even get in line for an amusement or two…especially a ride on the Ferris Wheel!

So Spread Happyness this week — and take your baby to the carnival!  🙂

“Show me the way…” (photo credit: Grace Church)

Week #151 – Summer Fun: Mentor someone!

Greetings, All — Happy Friday and Happy August!

We are counting down the Fridays between now and Labor Day Weekend with some short “Summer Fun” suggestions.  Because —  I’ve said it each week — while many adults are busy planning their kids’ summer fun, they often overlook their own!

And I want to make sure you’re having fun too!

But as we flip the calendar to August — I’ve got one thing on my mind: back to school!

Many newly minted high school graduates will be heading off to college in the weeks to come.  Last year’s sophomores will be entering their all-important senior years.  There are college grads heading out into the workforce.  And even some adults who like to use the power of August and September to make big changes at home or in their careers.

I wrote back in January about “Lowering the Ladder” to those who were launching a job search, seeking an internship, or looking to start their own businesses or side hustles at the start of the year.

The same rules apply now!

So here’s an easy way to Spread Happyness this week: mentor someone!