Back in May, I talked about a new tool I was using called an I-Did-It List (link here to that post ). It’s an end of the month look back at the things I did – a form of self-validation to celebrate my accomplishments (however small), to boost appreciation of my life, and to feel “I am enough”. For this month’s I-Did-It List I also looked back at the whole summer. While I have not done an official (published) seasonal action plan in a few seasons, I did create a short version of summer possibilities.
The end of summer is another of those, “what day is it really?” There’s the meteorological definition of September 1, the Labor Day holiday September 2, or the astrological definition with the equinox on September 21. I’m leaning meteorological today!
August had the “usual suspects” as someone quoted the other day – cardio drumming, new moon tarot reading, full moon beach shelling, monthly massage, book clubs, girlfriend chats, and blogging. A wonderful routine blend of my retirement lifestyle vision:
Active Body, Connected Heart, Creative Spirit, Contemplative Mind.
It also had Tropical Storm Debby (I need to work on my storm anxiety!), some fun crafting-with-friends events, a few lovely dates with hubby, lots of Olympics watching, and the completion of my two summer projects.
As I look at what are my Top 5 summer accomplishments, those two summer projects are on that list as well. One, a crafting project – making the centerpieces and decorations for our local fall wine & food festival – about 180 lighted & decorated wine bottles. The second, a deep dive into plants to better understand what’s in my yard, to learn about salt tolerant plants in my zone, and to explore the idea of becoming a Master Gardener. I’ve got a blog post on this summer project topic drafted, so more to come! The other 3 things in my top 5 were supporting hubby’s knee replacement recovery (he’s doing great), going to the central Florida Caladium Festival (picture of my caladiums blooming was in my post Aug 19, 2024), and fun in friend’s pools. That last one was on my “summer possibilities list” and I was pleased I had multiple invites this summer. Interesting that my top 5 were a blend of creativity and connections.
While we did no major travel this summer (as many others have done), having my I-Did-It lists to look back on made me feel like I had a very full summer! I am able to look back and feel good about all the local food places tried, the new crafts explored, the mini-day trips taken, and even the big life chores we checked off (updating our end-of-life paperwork, getting flood gates for the house).
Looking ahead to this fall, I will continue to do monthly I-Did-It lists. I’ve got a week-long spa trip planned (someone else did the planning!), new planting beds going in, garden club’s plant sales to work at, our local fall wine & food festival silent auction to help manage, and hubby’s second knee replacement to support. I’m looking forward to cooler temperatures, and hoping for no major hurricane (hurricane season goes through October).
An August I-Did-It, an end of summer review, and look ahead at the fall seasonal plans – a good meteorological first day of Fall post!
When do you transition from summer to fall thinking?
Picture: Sunrise morning visitor this week
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Would love to see pictures of the wine bottles lights set out at the festival. What an incredible feat, getting those made!! Wow!! Proud of you.
Love the idea of moonlight beach walking – something we can only do on vacation. And monthly massages. We did that for a year or two and then stopped. Think we need them now more than ever.
I applaud you for working toward better understanding your plants and their requirements and environments. I just can’t seem to grown anything with much success. Our summers are becoming increasingly hotter and dryer so things that might have done okay 5 or 10 years ago are dying by mid-July now days.
I like the approach of an I-did-it list rather than a to-do or bucket list. Need to review my summer bucket list but I scored a big fat ZERO on almost all of the things on my list. Now with this broken foot, I can’t really plan to do much other than sit in the recliner or lay down on the couch. Waaaaa!!
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Leslie – I will try to get a good picture of the wine bottles. Right now they’re all in cases stacked in the garage!
I understand about hot summers! This past one was brutal here (many days with heat index over 105), hence my inside the house research! In your area, succulents and cacti might be the best. Maybe as you’re laying on the couch you can google best plants for your zone! The last time I was laid up long term (breast cancer treatment), I did a deep dive study on Enneagram. And then another hot summer on the couch, I explored the history of mankind – more in the context of large social changes. Couch time for me is exploration time!
I’m loving my I-did-it-list. In today’s blog I talk about how it’s an internal validation tool. I read also recently, it’s better to focus on what you did than what you did not do. So end of summer, I didn’t talk about the misses at all and it energized me to do more this fall!
Hope the foot heals fast!
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Hello Pat! Your summer combination of creativity and connections sounds wonderful. I do so enjoy your Possibilities lists and now the I Did It lists, as a gentle way to live intentionally and gratefully. I may take that approach for 2025.
I typically think of September 1 as the start of fall, but with temps still hitting 100 degrees many days here, it’s hard to convince myself that fall has arrived. We will be spending a week further north, so I think that will help. And I hung up my fall wreath on the front door regardless of what Mother Nature says!
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Christie, Mother Nature here also does not recognize fall is cooler temps. While our temps might not hit 100, with our heat index we often do still. The morning we have a low in the 70s, you’ll hear me shouting for joy! But most days are sunny, my view is amazing, and I’m grateful for the invention of AC and dehumidification!
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Sounds like a great August!!!!! It sounds super fun (well, maybe except the part about Tim’s knee which I’m sure wasn’t much fun for either of you).
I try not to transition into fall until Oct. 1 or so! I love summer (and my pool) so much I don’t want summer to end!! I don’t even want to call the pool company to set up the time to close my pool – I don’t even want to think about it!!
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Candyse, I’m so glad to hear you loving your pool. I know how challenging it was to get it built! While you don’t want summer to end, I’m looking forward to some cooler temps… like maybe a morning in the low 70s?
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Pat, ‘I did it’ is such powerful affirmation. It pushes the ‘I wish I could have, I should have, and the why didn’t I’s’ out of mind. It is amazing what we can accomplish when there is no negative space in our heads.
Your summer sounds both fun and productive. Nice balance.
My transformation to fall begins the first day I can pull on a pair of jeans instead of shorts!
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Suzanne, If I wait till jeans to call it fall, I’ll miss the entire season! Jeans are winter gear here. :-). It was shorts, T-shirt, and flip flops once again today.
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So true!
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Hi Pat – it sounds like you’ve got your mojo back – just the right amount of interesting pastimes, friendly connections, and time supporting your husband – and enjoying some outings. An I-did-it list is such a positive way for a list maker to look at life. 🙂
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Leanne, I’m definitely trying to stay more positive, more self-accepting. My I-did-it-list is certainly helping there. I read recently that being aware of our little accomplishments is also a way to feel more life satisfaction.
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