1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: Good Morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 1: Today's tip is about how to plan for fun in 4 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: uncertain times. Long time listeners know that I really love 5 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: to plan. In particular, I love my lists. Every year 6 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: around this time, I post a Summer fun list over 7 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:33,160 Speaker 1: at my website Laura Vanderkam dot com, consisting of activities 8 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 1: that make summer feel like summer to me. Some are perennials, 9 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 1: like strawberry picking, and others are based on summer vacation plans, 10 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: like a Disney trip we've booked for late August and 11 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: early September. Planning lets us anticipate our fun this year, 12 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: though there's a lot of uncertainty. Will amusement parks even 13 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: be open? Will the stay at home order be lifted 14 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: before the strawberry season is over. I've read a few 15 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: think piece is about how this is all teaching us 16 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: the futility of planning. But I think that would be 17 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:09,320 Speaker 1: a ridiculous lesson to take away from this. Life is 18 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: always uncertain. We are spinning on an improbable planet in 19 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: the middle of cold space. Any of us could die tomorrow, 20 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: but we probably won't, so in general, best to eat 21 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 1: your vegetables, floss, and contribute to your four oh one k. Likewise, 22 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:32,960 Speaker 1: we can still plan for fun in uncertain times. We 23 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 1: don't ever want to become too attached to our plans. 24 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:38,039 Speaker 1: We don't want to get to the point where our 25 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: happiness or even our self concept rests on our plans. 26 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 1: This would be like calling off the wedding because it 27 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 1: might rain life guarantees nothing. But we can plan for 28 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: various scenarios and hope for the best, well figuring out 29 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:55,559 Speaker 1: what would make us happy and the event of something 30 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: far less than perfect. For instance, my family loves our 31 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: straw berry picking, but if for some unknown reason, outdoor 32 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: activities like strawberry picking are still unavailable in early June, 33 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: we can ask what part we really like. I'm pretty 34 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 1: sure my kids are most excited about making strawberry shortcake 35 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: with homemade whipped cream, and that we can still do. 36 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 1: We can plant our own strawberry plants in the backyard, 37 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 1: even if they never do all that well. Every summer, 38 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 1: I like to do what I call a mommy day 39 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: with each of my kids. The two of us spend 40 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: one on one time all day doing something the kid chooses. 41 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: I'm still hoping that places like amusement parks and beaches 42 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 1: will be open, but if not, we can choose other 43 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: things to do together, a special picnic and walk somewhere, 44 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 1: doing a project, reading stories together, even camping in the backyard. 45 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 1: We hope for option A, we have option B if 46 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 1: it doesn't happen, so I encourage you to still make 47 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 1: a summer fun list. I'm certainly doing so. Some big 48 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:01,920 Speaker 1: stuff simply can't happen if you don't plan for it. 49 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: You will not get a reservation at Cinderella's Royal Table 50 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: unless you book a hundred eight days out. But if 51 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: a pandemic precludes eating there, well, we've still got a 52 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 1: lot of princess dress up costumes and the option to 53 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 1: go on trips and beyond. In the meantime, This is Laura. 54 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening, and here's to making the most of 55 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 1: our time. Hey, everybody, I'd love to hear from you. 56 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: You can send me your tips, your questions, or anything else. 57 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at 58 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast pod that's B the number four then Breakfast 59 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 1: p o D. You can also shoot me an email 60 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: at Before Breakfast podcast at iHeart media dot com that 61 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: before Breakfast is spelled out with all the letters. Thanks 62 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: so much, I look forward to staying in touch. Before 63 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: Breakfast is a production of I heart Radio. For more 64 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: podcasts from I heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, 65 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.