Now that we are officially into June, we are in my favorite time of the year. Summer has always been a favorite for me even going back to my high school days. It wasn’t just being out of school that made it desirable for me, but rather summer was three months of opportunity. Those three months allowed me to get a summer job. That summer job would allow me to make enough money to get through the next school year. I had a strict weekly budget during the school year to handle car insurance, gas, and general spending money. The money I made in the summer had to last nine months.
Summer was also a time of opportunity for me to invest in myself. I loved offseason workouts. I know that sounds very odd, but I always had this drive to get better, stronger, and faster in the offseason so that when we returned in the fall, I was more prepared to compete in athletics. My goal was to return to school different…better!
My summer schedule was very strict and very different from what many young people today pursue. The day started with an early morning football workout. An eight-hour workday out in the sun followed that workout. American Legion baseball was the night activity three or four nights a week. While there was still time for fun, the summer was a great opportunity to stash some cash and to get better!
While I am now many years past those teenage years at Minden High, I am embracing this summer the same way. I want to make this summer one of great opportunities again. The goals are a little different, but I want to make sure I invest my time wisely and enter the fall having both made an impact and improved myself over the summer.
I am training harder to be in better physical condition in the fall. There is no clear reason for that goal other than I just want to get better. I want to write and speak more this summer to impact more people. I want to read more and listen to more podcasts to broaden my learning and perspective to be better prepared for opportunities in the fall. Sure, I want to have some fun this summer too, but I want it to be a summer of opportunity taken!
How will you approach this summer? Is there an area of your life that you would like to improve? Is there a challenge that you want to take but have been avoiding? Is there something you could embrace to add meaning and purpose to your life?
Regardless of your stage of life, why not make the next few months a summer of opportunity for you too? It might be the change you need!
