“It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside.”
―Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy-Tacy and Tib
If you have no idea what 80 days of summer is all about, then where have you been!? Don’t worry you can catch up here. But basically for 80 days, I am going to make sure I do something every single day that makes the most of summer, some things will be new some won’t. This challenge is to show that life is really made for living, no excuses, no wasting days! Just happiness every single day!
For my first day I planned an evening at the beach, I mean its been glorious sunshine for weeks so planning on a beach trip, what could go wrong?! Well apparently mother nature had other plans and queue clouds and heavy winds rolling in! Not exactly beach weather. Not to mention I woke up in a sad mood on day one, it would have been a grans birthday on day one and that hit me hard and I had a text off the ex and just a pile of things that on there own would have not been a problem but all together just hit me damn hard. Now on days like this and I realize I am going to sound like a weirdo with this next bit but being outside in the wind is the perfect remedy, so I guess mother nature knew. I mean there is nothing better than standing outside during strong winds and almost having your problems blown away. And I am telling you in a strange way it works almost like a cleanse.
When I turned 30 I converted to being Pagan, the best thing I have ever done. From that very moment my whole life changed in the most positive way, and for me, there is nothing that nature can not cure. Feeling sad go to the ocean, feeling tired go for a walk, got a cold, eat fresh fruit and vegetables. Everything for a happy, healthy life both mentally and physically can be found in nature. Got too many problems on your shoulders then climb a big hill and let the wind simply blow them away. When you believe that nature can cure anything then you never have an excuse again, only solutions and that my friends is the game changer.
So for day 1, I headed to Lyme Park on the edge of the peak district, can we just have a second to take in the fact that I work in Manchester and this is just 14 miles away from south Manchester! 14 miles, I would drive further for a Burger King. Part of the national trust and with vast parklands, it is the perfect place to just walk. The main buildings shut at 5 however, the parklands stay open until 8 which is perfect for an after-work walk. And at this time there are very few people mainly dog walkers, runners, cyclists and the odd teen trying to be romantic! It really felt like I had the place to myself, I always have blankets in my car and a book in my handbag so being alone has never been a problem for me, in fact, I find alone time extremely peaceful.
Within mintutes, the problems of the day had been lifted and I was back to my laughing, happy self! Its hard to be sad when you are trying to not be blown away!
I am very much a 100mph kinda person, act now think later, although I usually forget to think and certainly don’t process at the same speed as everyone. So having time alone is something I need, I tend to end up processing my acts, weeks or decisions weeks after the fact. By this point, most people have already forgotten and like it a brick wall the things I have done hit me like a brick wall. Not that I have anything bad to process, but I tend to need time to think about it and sort it out in my brain, I hope that makes sense to you!
The whole point of this challenge is to make sure I not only enjoy my summer but my life. I have a job that I adore in a way I never thought I would enjoy work. However, it is super important to me and always has been that I work to live not live to work and since becoming single I have really thrown myself into work and doing the best I can, an amazing distraction but not something I want to take over my life. It would be so easy for me to just work, eat, sleep, repeat. I could just save all my energy for the weekends, which is something I want to avoid at all costs. Living for the weekend is a waste of five whole days, there is so much you can do during the week that won’t impact your life in a negative way. I mean do you really have to go home and do the same thing five days in a row, do you really need to switch the TV on? Can your washing wait? Not that there is anything wrong with that, but have you thought about what you could be doing instead.
One of the questions I got asked a lot during my 40 new things in 40 days challenge was about the cost, and not going to lie that challenge worked out at about £10 a day, so £400 over the 40 days which I realise is a lot of money and not everyone has that kind of money to spend on going out. but let’s break that down a little £400 over 40 days is actually only £68 per week of the challenge, already that’s not so bad. A Starbucks coffee is what like £3.80 a day, times that by 5 and you actually have spent £19. If you buy a meal deal for lunch every day too at £3 that’s £15. So already by making two swaps, you have saved half of the £68, now what would be better, your morning Starbucks or actual activities and going out.
For day one I spent nothing! Parking was free and I just used my little legs and walked! I improved my physical and mental health by being outside and got to take in some beautiful views as well as catching up on my reading which I hardly get to do at home because there is always something that needs to be done!
So day one wasn’t what I expected but actually, it turned out better! Now only 79 more days to go!
I started feeling a little sad and finished the day feeling energized and more positive than ever, so got an hour after work? Leave the dishes and go for a walk, grab a friend, a partner or even your neighbour’s dog and just walk. Take in the world, cause guys this world is beautiful, just let it surprise you!
