The Dreaded Assignment

You know which one I mean. The inevitable “What I Did This Summer” essay. As much as I love school (honest!), that’s the one piece of writing I don’t look forward to.

Maybe it’s because it’s a reminder of how much I didn’t do this summer. Like, I didn’t read as many books as I wanted, take as many pictures as I thought, spend as much time trying to beat my personal best sprint time…basically, I didn’t quite meet my “summer goals.”

But you know what? That’s okay. Because this summer I spent more time with my sister playing Pokemon Go—she’s smarter than I give her credit for!—and hung out with my mom and dad watching the Olympics, and helped Grandma harvest her tomatoes (one for me, one for the bowl!), and even helped Grandpa around the farm.

Oh sure, I still ran. I read. I even wrote, though admittedly, it’s not my BEST work. So it’s not like I was lazy. I just took more time this summer to relax…

That’s it! THAT is what I need to write about. About how it’s okay to have down time, to try different things, to set goals and be okay about not meeting them, or even changing them as circumstances change. Because it is okay. Life doesn’t always go as planned.

Huh. Maybe that assignment won’t be so dreaded after all. I’m ready to get back into the swing of things next week. How about you?

Gotta jet! Enjoy the long weekend!

~ Chase Superman Duffy