Intention, attention, and 24 hours of magic

Want to give your kid the memory of a lifetime?

Set aside one full day to have a one-on-one buddy adventure with them. It doesn’t matter what you do or where you go. What matters is that you want to spend the day with just them. What matters is that you’re going to be fully present with each other. It’s a simple equation, really: Intention + Attention + 24 Hours = Magic. It’s like Walt Whitman said: “We were together. I forget the rest.” How you do it is totally up to you, but here are some considerations to point you in the right direction.

Make it an unexpected gift at and unexpected time.

Blindside them. Wake them up before the sun comes up. Hand them a slip of paper and say, “Get dressed and throw these things in a backpack. Meet me in the car in five minutes. We’re going on an adventure.” Hit the open road early and don’t come back until it’s dark and you’re both exhausted.

Or you can make them a co-conspirator in the shenanigans. Let them help plan the epic adventure. Walk up to them the day before and say, “I took the day off work tomorrow so you and I can have an adventure together. All day, just you and me. Write down some ideas of what you’d like to do, and when I get home, we’ll go over your list.”

Want to really knock their socks off? Do it on a school day. Call them in sick and play hooky.

Do less. Do better.

You might be tempted to try to do everything, but if the day stresses you out, then was it worth it? A mile wide and an inch deep is not a winning strategy for meaningful adventures. Instead, consider picking one city, one park, one theme, one adventure—and be all in.

Get distracted together.

Leave space in the day to take some detours. If you see a stand with homemade pies, you gotta stop. If you see a sign for a rustic road and a covered bridge, take that winding path.

No kids? No problem.

Maybe there’s someone else you want to surprise with a day together. A spouse, a parent, a friend. Wonderful! Same considerations apply.

Maybe you can take inspiration from an awesome experience a Verve team member and her sisters put together for their dad, a retired career truck driver. They said, “Pick a date, Pop, and pick three diners anywhere in the state where the four of us can go for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Anywhere in the state of Wisconsin. We’re with you for the day.” He said, “Can I talk you into stopping at a casino along the way?” They said, “Do the Bears still suck?” And so they went. They even made t-shirts to commemorate Dad/Daughter Diner Drive 2024, potentially the first of an annual event. Shout out to the Hearty Platter in Bonduel, Timber Valley Restaurant and Ho-Chunk Gaming in Black River Falls, and the Pine Cone Restaurant in Johnson Creek.

Not a fan of diners? No sweat! You could totally do a Wisconsin Supper Clubs version of that. Or visit breweries by bike. If you’re looking for deep rest and relaxation, another Verve team member swears by the Sundara Inn and Spa in Wisconsin Dells. So that’s an option, too.

Less is more.

It doesn’t have to be a full day if you sprinkle in mini adventures throughout the year. Just remember the value of an unexpected gift at an unexpected time. Go out for breakfast at 6:00 AM. Go for a bike ride before or after work. Pick them up for lunch. Take them to movie on a random Tuesday night. Stay up late playing video games. Get some B-Dubs and start a Lord of the Rings movie marathon—and order another batch of wings for each movie. Make a cake together for no reason. Go get an ice cream cone. Go to a bookstore. Go for a walk. Start a puzzle and an audiobook and don’t go to bed until one or both are done. Have a candlelit dinner—nothing fancy, just light candles because it’s awesome.

Life is short. Choose Verve.

If you need help funding your spontaneous adventure, well, that’s what we’re here for. Reach out to us. We have great savings plans (Name Your Savings and Pick Your Payout work especially well if you prefer to plan ahead), personal loan options, and credit cards to choose from, and we’ll help guide you to the option that works best for you. Remember that having fun and making memories is a healthy way to live.  Don’t let money (or the lack of it) get in the way of making memories and living with enthusiasm, gusto, and playfulness, today and every day. Where there is a Verve, there’s a way.