The Summer of Self-Exploration

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We’re well into summer, and oh no…you’re bored! You had been waiting for the warm season for a long time, and now that it’s here, a question suddenly pops to your mind – “what now?”

Thankfully, in our list, we’ve covered the basics you will need to start your summer adventure. Make this summer all about exploring yourself. By the end of it, you will meet a better, more complete version of yourself, ready to take on any challenge life brings.

Food

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Summer is the time to expand your knowledge of various types of food. The summer heat is great motivation for a change of diet or new eating adventures. Discover different salads that will boost your immune system and give your body a uniquely refreshing experience. On the other hand, if you are a “you only live once” kind of a person, why not enthrall your taste buds with a great medium-rare steak seasoned with your favorite toppings? This free time will be a great trial period for discovering what types of food your body likes and doesn’t like. Use it wisely and find your gastronomical self.

Drinks

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We know that summer usually translates to parties and parties usually translate to heavy drinking, but try to make a little change this summer. Instead of going on a drinking binge with your friends or your loved one(s), why not use this time to explore and define your taste? Instead of drinking a case of inexpensive wine, try to cultivate yourself and learn the difference between good and bad wine. The same applies to beer. Find out how each brand makes you feel, what side-effects it has. How fast will it get you drunk? It is important to know your limits, and summertime is great to start working on those.

Music

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Do you consider yourself a music connoisseur? Music is not simply something that chases away silence. Music is something that should invoke feelings, make you think, relax or alert you. In case you haven’t already, try to find the genre that suits you best and hear what else it has to offer. It might lead you into an unknown territory. You might even discover something life-changing. Furthermore, go listen to a live concert. Whether you prefer the strength of rock music, the elegance of jazz or the soul-baring country music, the live performances are what it’s all about. Feel the energy and raw emotion as it unfolds before your eyes.

Books

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This is probably not a popular choice during summer days, but still, it doesn’t have to include you sitting alone in your room and staring blankly at some pages for ten hours straight. Stir it up a little, be creative. For example, if you’re reading Lord of the Rings, go out into nature, put down a picnic blanket, and imagine yourself inside a beautiful Hobbit village (before all the war and destruction, that is). As soon as you feel tired, take a break, look at the nature around you, contemplate on what you’ve just read. This way you will encourage your critical and imaginative thinking and become, in a sense, wiser, all the while relaxing your body to the fullest.

Nature

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Bond with nature. As a society, we are growing further and further apart from our life source – nature. We owe it so much, and yet we forget about it far too often. Take this free time you have and go out into nature, see what you’ve maybe forgotten. The simple, still beauty of trees will enchant you, the smell of a forest will revive you and the life around you will make your heart beat just a little faster. Go out jogging, plant a tree (or climb one if you feel nostalgic), observe nature from a hilltop, go skinny-dipping in a river, bicycle your way to the Grand Canyon. You will realize that nature is this wonderful ancient meta-civilization that we’ve completely forgotten about. Embrace it again.

Love

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Finally, fall in love. Obviously, this can’t be forced. However, you can still affect your availability. Don’t be afraid to let something happen if the mood is right and there is potential. Get a new summer fling or restart an old friendship. The summer is the time of new beginnings. Whether they lead to something or not, beginnings are always the best. The excitement that comes with the first word, first touch, first kiss.

Basically, use this summer as a new starting point and set up goals. Remember, it’s all about inner motivation.

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