Top 35 Summer (Break-Up) Bucket-list Adventures

“One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through and it will be someone else’s survival guide.”

Brene Brown

Break-ups are the hardest challenges of life. Some break-ups are easy to spot like a car going down the wrong side of the road; and some just plainly blind side us. It’s been years since I went through the grieving process of the death of a relationship. I’m happily married, and it took me many past relationship’s, heartaches, and pains to even be where I am today. I’m not a guru that is here to write advice to, “Be the best person you can be.” It’s comically when anyone tries to sell that crap. I’m here to say sometimes a break-up really sucks; sometimes the one person who was never meant to let you down…does.

We as a human race put so much time into relationships that we forget to put in time to be selfish for ourselves. The point of this list is to support those who may be struggling the same and give them comfort of knowing how to survive and thrive. In honesty, you survive by grieving through your loss and picking up the pieces that fell.

One of my best friends is going through the death of her relationship. When a relationship that ends after a couple months or even a couple year’s ends, it will hurt. But imagine building a life together over 13+ years together; sharing a home; sharing hobbies and passions…and then it’s gone. I love my best friend fully (faults and all), and she will openly admit she is not perfect. But no one is. There is surviving and growing; and there is going down the wrong path. Whether she likes it or not, I’ll always be a champion on her side. When you find a friend that you can be fully yourself around, you hold that friendship close.

My friend is being as strong as she can, but I don’t want her to slip into the downward spiral of looking at social media and seeing where her ex was. She’s going to have both bad days and good days. She’s got a strong extended family and friends who are checking on her. Even though she falls behind the line, “I’m good,” I want to make sure she’s growing from this and learning to love herself again as well as life. Originally, the plan was to Google a list ‘Summer Break-Up Bucket List’ to send to her. Shockingly, nothing like this exists through web searches or Vocal Pages. How could no one else come up with a healing list to start building their new chapter?

Here is a list that is both PG and R depending how devious she wants to go. The biggest thing is letting her take her time and finding peace of mind once again. This list is not just for her, this is for anyone else that needs reminding they are Bad Ass Bitches (or Men…but saying ‘Bad Ass Men’ somehow doesn’t hit the same empowerment). Whatever step you are in your grieving process, please know, finding your strength again will build your confidence. One day, you will no longer cry when you think of the relationship. Revenge body, soul and mind is what you need to work on. The biggest thing to remember is that it’s not ok to hurt someone else while you are healing. One-night stands are there as a temporary band-aid. The list below is for anyone working on the cracks in their hearts to heal. This is your time to be unapologetically selfish to survive.

1. Picnic on the beach.

2. Be a Tourist in St. Joseph, MI.

3. Try a new food.

4. Go to a Farmer’s Market.

5. Go Wine Tasting.

6. Watch a sunset.

7. Wake up early, and watch the sunrise.

8. Go to a concert and music festival.

9. Jump off a boat (even if it's just the dingy).

10. Treat yourself to a spa day.

11. Do 1 day of being a hermit (locked in your house or boat).

12. Take a Weekend Break from Social Media.

13. Do a Random Act of Kindness.

14. Do awesome best friend things.

15. Sleep under the stars.

16. Go Cloud watching on a date.

17. Do Something that scares you.

18. Watch the Sunset on A Date.

19. Sext Your Crush.

20. Buy Yourself A New Sex Toy.

21. Skinny-dip at night.

22. Learn how to cook one new dish for a date.

23. Start a burn book journal (write in a journal what you would normally text your ex). When you are ready to let go, burn the book.

24. Re-do a room in your house only for you.

25. Go to a Carnival.

26. Play Miniature Golf.

27. Create your new hook-up play-list.

28. Eat at a Rooftop Restaurant.

29. Explore; take a road trip with Tito’s (Your new ride or die).

30. Create an Instagram (…USE YOUR INSTAGRAM) …for this next one…

a. Post 8 “Sexy” Pictures for Instagram

31. Go to a Sports Game.

32. Tie a message to a balloon and let it go (works for messages in bottles as well).

33. Feel confident in a bikini.

34. Go on a long hike.

35. Make Everyday Count!

Truth be told, this is a easy yet hard list (especially if you are not in the area of Southwest Michigan). Either way, understand the reasoning behind the list; it's to create a plan to break the habit of falling out of control. It's to allow you to celebrate your strength, let go of your weaknesses and get back to the Bad-Ass Bitches (Men) I know you are.