Studies prove that family mental health results when families have fun together. Well being is tied to being, well, together.
And family togetherness doesn’t just happen. Bonds are not developed in the course of just being together. Yes, together time is a prerequisite, but people can live parallel lives without ever creating a spark of love. It’s together-time PLUS memories that forge unbreakable bonds. Curate these bonds through shared experiences, and the fastest, easiest way is through special seasonal events. Autumn is an ideal time for creating a day to remember.
Choose a Memory
If your well is dry, look online for upcoming events or fun sites to visit for a day trip. Eventbrite is a good place to begin. Ask the family to make bucket lists for fall and look for commonalities. Mull it over and choose one…and then let the fun begin.
- Create clues for where you’re going
- Etch details on a family calendar to get everyone excited.
- Begin packing a bag of essentials. Nothing revs up enthusiasm like seeing an event come to life right before your eyes. Stash hoodies, sun screen, umbrellas, games, maps…whatever you may want in a central spot.
Plan the Memories
Making memories means not leaving what the family remembers to chance. Rather than risk the memory being how long it took to get somewhere or how cold it was or how annoying another backseat rider might have been, take charge of what takes place. Follow three principles to create a memorable fall event:
Attention to detail. Leonard da Vinci is attributed with saying, “Details make perfection, and perfection is not a detail.” This means figuring out in advance where to eat, what to see, what to wear. Make trip hats or matching t-shirts. Create a trip play list if you anticipate a drive or a wait along the way. Pack some special treats to nosh on in the car. Details matter. I guarantee you: no one ever remembers a ho-hum activity. Jelly is the secret ingredient that makes a PB&J taste good, and you have to make that jelly. It’s the details that give an event the spark it needs to make it memorable.- Shoot for over the top. You can’t just go to a corn maze. You have to eat corn on the cob as part of the experience. Make some popcorn over an open fire. Tell corny jokes. Get the idea? The more you add to the experience, the more your family will remember.
- Make it concrete. Transfer these concrete details into visual reminders of a wonderful autumn day. Consider booking a photo shoot. At the very least, have a contest for who can snap the best pics of the day. A picture is a moment that never fades. Think about splashing something like Mixtiles over a wall afterwards, or scrap some pictures and memorabilia as a lasting tribute to a day well spent.
Find a Christmas present from the event or day and stash it away to rekindle memories on demand.
The bottom line is that no one wants to grow old all alone. If you want your nearest and dearest to remain both the nearest and dearest, now is the time to foster those unbreakable bonds. The family will be stronger and healthier, and so will you.
