
I'm already feeling a desire to cozy up on the couch with a good book, let myself linger in bed in the morning, and cook a big pot of veggie stew. Two of the maple trees at the park are turning (pics above) and jeans aren't too far away.
I love this time of year but I'm also pausing in a big way because WHERE’D THE SUMMER GO?!? I feel like I'm just getting started. Two of my boys were reflecting on this as well… now that they're “adulting” (ages 19 and 24), they wonder where the carefree time of summer went.
While this is summer hasn't been filled with big exciting trips or outrageously memorable events (you could say it was the summer of dabbling), it has nevertheless been fulfilling… at least balanced… which is the approach that's becoming more and more important in my life. With my business schedule keeping me busy, if I don't purposefully block time to rest, it all seems to fall apart and I'm not my best self. I'm sure you can relate to overextending yourself then crashing. Before you know it, you're burnt out and good to no one. See my book Everyday Ease: Mindfully Moving From Burnout To Balance for my experience with burnout and why I won't go back there again.
Some of the daily things I do that keep my pendulum from swinging too far in either direction:
- Morning meditation and quiet time on the porch
- My commitment to my bike riding goal (718 miles down, 282 to go) = 11.5 miles on an average day
- Getting up every 32 minutes for a body or breath break
- Napping 16 to 22 minutes a few times a week (becoming one of my favorites)
- Long lunch/early dinner as a one hour break late in the afternoon
- Earth breaks - laying on the grass with Suki and chillaxing
- In bed by 9:30, often 9:15
- Connecting with a friend to chat and share my humanity
Embracing transitions isn’t always easy but it's made much easier by sticking with the foundations that support you. With the change of season, school starting, and life seeming to pick up the pace even more, it's imminently important to purposefully design your day so you can maintain your energy and focus on what you really want.
And on that note, check out the list of upcoming classes and workshops (I think you'll find Habits Made Easy particularly applicable). Fall is going to be pretty exciting. I hope to see many of you soon!
Peace and Love,
Shanti