WEBVTT - Plan for fun in uncertain times

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio.

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<v Speaker 1>Good Morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.

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<v Speaker 1>Today's tip is about how to plan for fun in

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<v Speaker 1>uncertain times. Long time listeners know that I really love

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<v Speaker 1>to plan. In particular, I love my lists. Every year

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<v Speaker 1>around this time, I post a Summer fun list over

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<v Speaker 1>at my website Laura Vanderkam dot com, consisting of activities

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<v Speaker 1>that make summer feel like summer to me. Some are perennials,

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<v Speaker 1>like strawberry picking, and others are based on summer vacation plans,

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<v Speaker 1>like a Disney trip we've booked for late August and

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<v Speaker 1>early September. Planning lets us anticipate our fun this year,

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<v Speaker 1>though there's a lot of uncertainty. Will amusement parks even

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<v Speaker 1>be open? Will the stay at home order be lifted

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<v Speaker 1>before the strawberry season is over. I've read a few

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<v Speaker 1>think piece is about how this is all teaching us

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<v Speaker 1>the futility of planning. But I think that would be

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<v Speaker 1>a ridiculous lesson to take away from this. Life is

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<v Speaker 1>always uncertain. We are spinning on an improbable planet in

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<v Speaker 1>the middle of cold space. Any of us could die tomorrow,

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<v Speaker 1>but we probably won't, so in general, best to eat

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<v Speaker 1>your vegetables, floss, and contribute to your four oh one k. Likewise,

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<v Speaker 1>we can still plan for fun in uncertain times. We

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<v Speaker 1>don't ever want to become too attached to our plans.

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<v Speaker 1>We don't want to get to the point where our

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<v Speaker 1>happiness or even our self concept rests on our plans.

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<v Speaker 1>This would be like calling off the wedding because it

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<v Speaker 1>might rain life guarantees nothing. But we can plan for

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<v Speaker 1>various scenarios and hope for the best, well figuring out

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<v Speaker 1>what would make us happy and the event of something

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<v Speaker 1>far less than perfect. For instance, my family loves our

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<v Speaker 1>straw berry picking, but if for some unknown reason, outdoor

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<v Speaker 1>activities like strawberry picking are still unavailable in early June,

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<v Speaker 1>we can ask what part we really like. I'm pretty

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<v Speaker 1>sure my kids are most excited about making strawberry shortcake

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<v Speaker 1>with homemade whipped cream, and that we can still do.

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<v Speaker 1>We can plant our own strawberry plants in the backyard,

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<v Speaker 1>even if they never do all that well. Every summer,

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<v Speaker 1>I like to do what I call a mommy day

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<v Speaker 1>with each of my kids. The two of us spend

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<v Speaker 1>one on one time all day doing something the kid chooses.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm still hoping that places like amusement parks and beaches

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<v Speaker 1>will be open, but if not, we can choose other

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<v Speaker 1>things to do together, a special picnic and walk somewhere,

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<v Speaker 1>doing a project, reading stories together, even camping in the backyard.

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<v Speaker 1>We hope for option A, we have option B if

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<v Speaker 1>it doesn't happen, so I encourage you to still make

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<v Speaker 1>a summer fun list. I'm certainly doing so. Some big

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<v Speaker 1>stuff simply can't happen if you don't plan for it.

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<v Speaker 1>You will not get a reservation at Cinderella's Royal Table

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<v Speaker 1>unless you book a hundred eight days out. But if

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<v Speaker 1>a pandemic precludes eating there, well, we've still got a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of princess dress up costumes and the option to

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<v Speaker 1>go on trips and beyond. In the meantime, This is Laura.

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<v Speaker 1>Thanks for listening, and here's to making the most of

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<v Speaker 1>our time. Hey, everybody, I'd love to hear from you.

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<v Speaker 1>You can send me your tips, your questions, or anything else.

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<v Speaker 1>Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at

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<v Speaker 1>Before Breakfast pod that's B the number four then Breakfast

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<v Speaker 1>p o D. You can also shoot me an email

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<v Speaker 1>at Before Breakfast podcast at iHeart media dot com that

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<v Speaker 1>before Breakfast is spelled out with all the letters. Thanks

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<v Speaker 1>so much, I look forward to staying in touch. Before

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<v Speaker 1>Breakfast is a production of I heart Radio. For more

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