It was a good week, wasn’t it? Highs in the 70s and only one more week to go before Spring Break! There was a lot to look forward to this week (besides midterms). This is the time of the year where we get a sneak peak of spring, and I, undoubtably, start day dreaming about the endless possibilities summer will hold. I started pulling out my cropped jeans and flip-flops, even though it’s still probably a little too cold to be rocking them.
I just can’t help it though! I love spring and summer! I live for it all year. Yes, winter has its moments, mainly two of my three favorite holidays, Christmas and Black Friday, but for the most part its a whole lot of acrylic and wool combination sweaters and blustery, cold days stuck inside (except for this past year of course, which was the exception).
All this day dreaming has led me to a lot of thinking about old summers past. Summers that were much more care free then the ones I expect to find from here on out. Summers where I didn’t have a job and mooched off my parents. Sleeping in all morning, tanning by the pool with friends all afternoon, and hanging out all night. Summertime + youth has equaled some of the best times of my life.
The highlight of summer 2008 was hanging out on the boardwalk with Campus Cutie editor Caitlin and Photoblog editor Christine (yes, we go wayyyyy back and yes Christine took this picture, shes been talented forever) looking for cute boys…Not much has changed.
But there’s one summer (and well, actually whole year) I’ve been thinking of a lot recently, 2008. I don’t know why, but I can’t stop reminiscing about that wonderful year in my life. I think this was all sparked by someone saying something about how long ago 2008 was. Of course my reaction was, “What!? 2008 a looonggggg time ago? That was like YESTERDAY! I mean that was the year before I graduated high school and that was like THREE DAYS AGO!”
Well, I didn’t exactly graduate high school three days ago, more like three years ago! Which means that 2008 was four years ago (i.e. the entire length of college for most people). How did this happen? I feel like I went to bed four years ago, had some pretty awesome times to magically wake up and discover that the past four years flew by in no time at all. Is this how the rest of my life is going to go? Am I going to wake up in a month to discover that I’m 75 and crocheting all day?
Junior Prom, 2008: The good ol’ days
And in short, 2008 was a pretty good year. Katy Perry was new and singing about kissing a girl, local boy Michael Phelps won eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, and Obama took over the world. On a personal note, it was a really good for me too. I got the led in my high school play, learned how to (sort-of) drive, and I turned 17. My boobs were also still small enough to fit into bras that were cute (hey Victoria’s Secret, I like to look pretty too, please make bras in my size!).
I know it wasn’t all good, for one thing the whole world was in an economic crisis, and I still counted My Chemical Romance as one of my favorite bands (shhh I still do!). But all in all, 2008 felt like a year where our generation banded together and believed in hope and change. We believed that we could make a difference in this world.
I miss them
Like most normal people, I coped with this case of nostalgia by stalking myself on Facebook and watching The Hills (seasons 1-3 before Heidi and Spencer went cRaZy) till 3 a.m. in the morning. Healthy I know.
And don’t get me wrong, I’m not depressed about the current state of my life. It’s awesome. I mean, look at this picture of me from New Years.
If anything, I’m scared about time. I’m scared that things went by too quickly for me to really enjoy them and that things will continue to go by too quickly. I love my life and I especially love to LIVE. I just want to make sure I live every moment to the fullest.
So I came up with an awesome check list to make sure summer 2012 is not only the best summer yet, but that I will remember every second of it when I’m 75 and crocheting all day. And why shouldn’t it be? I don’t have to be home by midnight anymore and I can (almost) drink legally.
Take a moment to record the days shenanigans
It doesn’t have to be written, but hey a blog does work (and is great practice for all my writing friends out there). Take a photo, record a funny moment on your phone, or save a concert ticket stub. Facebook has made this so easy for you. You’ll be surprised how much fun it is to look back years later.
Make a list of everything you want to do this summer
I did this with a group of my friends a couple of years ago and you’d be surprised how much we did! It was actually really successful. The list had everything from flying a kite, to going to the beach, to reading a good book, to going camping. And guess what?! We accomplished all of that! That was a summer to remember too.
Beach Trip 2010
Do something stupid
You’re young! You might as well do something dumb now before it will really affect your life (and I’m not talking about something illegal or something that will harm others). Maybe try skinny dipping or have a summer fling (yes, I’m implying that those are stupid…they never end well).
Make a difference
Helping others not only helps someone else, but you too. Try volunteering at a nursing home or spend your summer creating a YouTube video that will change the way the world. It doesn’t matter if it is big or small, every bit helps.
Stop caring so much about time and your life and just start living it
Does this even need to be on the list? Well, it does for me. I think sometimes we get so wrapped up with time and how much we’ve done (or haven’t done) and it makes us go crazy (or at least me). I try to wake up every morning and say to myself “Good morning darling, its a beautiful new day outside, go out there and make the most of it.” When we get so lost in work, school, drama, and other things, we forget about the most important thing in life. To live it to the fullest, make a difference, and spend time with the ones we love. What that means is up to you, but I think we all have a pretty good idea about what that means in our lives.
So, sorry LC and Audrina, 2008 was balling, but 2012 is (and is going to continue to be) the most fantastic year yet! Go out there and have fun this weekend! And don’t forgot, Sunday we lose an hour for daylight savings time….better reason to make the next 47 hours ROCK!