If you’re anything like me, this time of year is particularly painful. Festival season is quickly approaching and with it, endless teasers about headliners, potential guest appearances, and Instagram pictures of enviable outfits fit for the desert sun. I am gearing up to be beside myself with jealousy once more because, as is the case every other year, I will not be attending Coachella.
There is always a reasonable excuse, whether it be no one to go with, not being able to get time off or, the most likely of all, not having enough funds to flit across the country for the weekend. But I still hold on to that elusive dream that one day I will be joining the masses en route to their blissful, magical, fever-dream of a weekend. Until then, this is what I will be doing instead:
1. Social Media Stalking
Given the fact that Coachella is so close to Los Angeles, celebrity sightings are a dime a dozen. Our Instagram feeds will no doubt be inundated with pictures of cut offs, flower crowns, and peace signs. I will peruse these pictures with an air of indifference, whilst I am sobbing on the inside.
2. Driving Around
Seeing countless photos that spike my FOMO levels will most likely requiring getting out of the house for a bit. This will lead me to taking long drives off the beaten paths, listening to playlists I have created based on artists I know will be at Coachella. As I drive, I will imagine I am one with the crowd, dancing the night away with LCD Soundsystem. I mean, same thing, right? There is a definite possibility this daydreaming will lead to a massive car accident.
3. Summer Clothes Dress Up
Outside might be chillier than April has a right to be, but inside, summer is in full swing! Time to dust off last summer’s cut-offs, break a sweat trying to get them on, bemoan the months you spent curled up under the covers with a jar of Nutella, and vow to go to the gym everyday until June.
4. Reading
What better way to live vicariously through others than to curl up with a book? I’m counting on a few books in particular, some that I’ve read already and some that are new, to take me on a journey away from my normal, mundane day-to-day existence. Some suggestions: Wild by Cheryl Strayed, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, and The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins.
5. Look At Old Travel Pictures
I have been extremely fortunate in my life when it comes to travelling. I have studied abroad and travelled through Europe. These are some of my most treasured experiences and I often look back on my collection of photographs from that time and reminisce about what a beautiful experience it was. This inevitably leads to:
6. Crying
This is a crucial part of your weekend not spent at Coachella. Crying is a beautiful thing and we shouldn’t shy away from it. It purges the negative feelings from our body and helps us to work through the grief we have over not being able to see Calvin Harris live. A handy companion to crying, of course, is:
7. Drinking Wine
Do I really need to explain this? Wine always helps.
8. Making A To-Do List
After an emotional roller coaster of a weekend and countless hours of introspection, I will ultimately decide to never let myself down like this again. I will come up with a rigorous and detailed plan to get my life together within the year. Coachella 2017 is mine.
No more excuses. It’s time to start ticking off the items on my bucket list. I will hitchhike cross-country if I have to. Potentially getting murdered is worth the risk for a music festival right?
Featured image via Ralph_PH / CC BY
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Very funny article…oh the pain! Love the loops too. Here’s to planning what we really want to do.