☀️ Your summer assignment ☀️
Although the temperatures seem to be fighting us, summer is almost here and I have a goal for you!
Let's make this our summer of pouring into ourselves and preparing for the future.
Yes, our democracy is in crisis. But we can’t always operate in crisis mode. Even the most ardent activist amongst us needs to replenish their energy. So many folks are overfunctioning, unable to stop. Over time, that will make even our strongest leaders collapse. We can't afford that. You can't afford that.
My summer assignment to you is this: Bolster yourself this summer, because you are worthy and because you need the energy for the long road ahead.
Here's how: Do a total of 25 things that fit into one of two categories – creative practice and future building.
25 for the summer of 2025!
Rather than define these terms, here's several prompts within each category. Enjoy!
Creative Practice
🎭🎭🎭🎭See art/build community 🎭🎭🎭🎭
Visit a museum
Attend a poetry slam
Go to a play
Organize a book swap: encourage folks to write notes in the books for future readers
Host a potluck for home-cooked dishes
🎨🎨🎨🎨Create Art 🎨🎨🎨🎨
Sit outside with a sketchbook or journal and see what flows from you
Take an art class in person or online
Nerd out on the haiku and write 1, 2 or 3
Fashion a bouquet with herbs, wildflowers, etc.
Re-write the ending to the last movie you saw or book you read
💃💃💃💃Move your body 💃💃💃💃
Take a walk in the woods or on the beach
Sing your heart out at home or at a karaoke party
Dance your heart out at home or at a daytime rave
Future Building
🫂🫂🫂🫂Build Community 🫂🫂🫂🫂
Organize your block or building to compost, clean up or plant flowers
Attend a protest on an issue you want to see change with
Teach something to someone younger than you – something as simple as a joke, a recipe
Visit an older relative/friend and ask them to share a story about their lives; document and share it as appropriate
Make a family tree and fill it with notes about the relatives you knew/heard stories from
Host a clothing swap to encourage re-use and minimize waste
Organize a vision boarding party
❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹Nourish Yourself ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹
Plant something – a tree, a flower, a fruit or vegetable
Pickle/can/jar something that you can enjoy later
Learn a new sport that will keep you active and healthy
Research a period in history and consider what it can teach you/us about the present and future
Learn an ancestral practice or tradition and find ways to embody it as is or adapt it so it works for you
Try out or perfect a family recipe
Book a solo vacation or staycation six months from now
Say no to things; your future self will thank you for the extra energy!
This is a guide…not a test or a blueprint. Make it yours! Have fun with it! Get your family/friends involved!
Come up with a good system where you can track what you’ve done:
Put a post-it on a bulletin board for every activity you do
Make a 5x5 table and fill in a square each time you complete an activity
Print out this list and mark off each activity as you do it
Do share any other ideas you have for creative practice and future building in the comments section. Enjoy!
Until soon,
Sayu