Jeff’s Journal
By Jeff Whitaker
I know I’m not the only one who’s thought about this. It was bound to happen at some point. It’s inevitable. It’s August! That means summer is on the downslope. I know many of you don’t want to hear it, but in less than one month, Summer 2021 will be in the books. Sure autumn doesn’t begin officially until late September, but once Labor Day weekend passes, for all intents and purposes so does summer.
Before all of you Pumpkin Spice and sweater weather people start to cheer, give us summer-lovers one last chance to enjoy the warm, sunny days. Don’t get me wrong, I love the fall. It’s one of my favorite times of the year, but I’m still hesitant to let summer slip away so quickly. I just want a little more. The good news is it’s only August, and that means we still have a few weeks to check off our bucket list of summer fun.
Like anything else in life, making the most of these last three weeks of the season requires intentionality. Let’s make a commitment right now to set aside a few minutes (after you finish reading Shore Local) and decide what the must-dos and must-haves remain. Then figure out a way to make them happen.
The truth be told, our family has been able to pack in a lot of what we set out to do this season. Sure we missed out on some of what we planned, but all in all I feel like we’ve done our best to make the most of our time together. However, there’s still that voice inside that says, “I want just a little more time.”
Now before you Jersey Shore Summertime Lovers get too depressed, let’s make a plan. It’s as easy as 1 – 2 – 3.
Make a list of what you want to accomplish, where you want to go, and who you want to do it with during the time you have remaining this summer.
Pull up a calendar and look for the times you have open between now and Labor Day weekend.
Fill in the available times with the activities and places on your list. Make the time.
You’re probably thinking, “That’s pretty easy and logical. What’s the big deal?”. You’d be right. However, the key is the fourth step. Without it, Labor Day will come and go with none of this accomplished. The fourth step? Intentional follow through. You have to stick to it. In the end, you’ll be glad you did. By the way, if you’re still looking forward to the sweaters and the pumpkin lattes, no worries. They will be here soon enough. Happy August!
Jeff Whitaker is a veteran broadcaster here in South Jersey.. He now draws on his experience and training to work with companies and individuals to develop effective storytelling, communications and leadership skills. Find free resources and ways Jeff can work with you at jeffwhitaker.com
