It’s summertime. It’s hot. Kids of all ages are easily bored.
But let’s look at that same factual statement and add a little extra to it- “extra” is a word my family uses a lot, especially with me!
It’s summertime, and a summer escape from the heat, and from boredom can be much easier than we think. There are so many ways that we can focus on fun and create our own adventures! Of course, traveling is something that many families do, and just because ALS is a part of that experience doesn’t mean it can’t happen. In fact, you can visit this link for many ALS traveling tips:
For those who choose not to travel, make your own escape right where you are!
A FEW IDEAS YOU CAN DO FROM HOME-FOR THOSE WITH LIMITED MOBILITY
- Get a massage
- Watch a sunrise and sunset in the same day
- Name a star
- Attach a note to a balloon and release it
- Do a wine tasting
DEEPEN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS
- Reconnect with an old friend
- Research your family history or ancestry and create a family tree. Write down your findings for your children or grandchildren
- Share a secret with a family member or close friend
- Invite someone over just to talk
GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR CREATIVE SIDE
- Watch one of our ALS Texas and To Taste recorded cooking classes and learn new recipes
- Write a poem (remember you can use your augmentative and alternative communication devices for so many things)
- Listen to Music
- Do scrapbooking with a family member
- Record stories of your life into a tape recorder for family members (I did this with my grandfather shortly after the movie Saving Private Ryan came out-having his experiences, including during World War II is priceless)
- Take pictures-inside, outdoors-everywhere
- Buy a camera and start taking photographs of things that appeal to you: nature, architecture, portraits of your family, etc.
- Start a blog about a hobby
FIND MEANING
- Try mindful meditation
- Read the Bible, Torah, and Koran to gain a deeper understanding of these religions
- Read proverbs or sayings from cultures other than your own
- Attend a religious service of your own religion or one that you are curious about
- Volunteer at a charity that speaks to you: animal rights, adult illiteracy, homelessness, etc.
- Join a book club
- Visit museums and art galleries
- Identify what it is that means the most to you and do that
The truth is that the most meaningful parts of our lives often come to us as fun surprises and in any season. We are, in the words of C.S. Lewis, surprised by joy. It’s the small, unobserved moments that most often allow us a glimpse into eternity. It’s the sound of summer rain falling softly on the garden, the way the light reflects off the side of a mountain and into the valley below, a long-forgotten memory that comes to us from out of nowhere and then leads to reconnecting with an old friend. A summer escape can be right where you are.
I’d love to hear what you are doing this summer!
-Tonya Hitschmann, Director of Community Programs
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