October 2024

As we are well into the fall season, I thought it would be a good time to celebrate what is happening in each of our lives and just take a moment to breathe. Once the end of October rolls around, we enter right into a season of wonderful holidays, so what can you celebrate and do now to give your mind and body a break before busyness begins again?

Here are three things I am trying to do. I say ‘hope’ because these are supposed to be ways I can re-center myself, not add more stress and thus, if they don’t happen, its OK.

• I take a walk every day. It gets me out of the house, and I get some fresh air. Even if I have done a workout earlier in the day, I am trying to just get out to just move and enjoy the world around me. On Sunday mornings, I will sometimes get out for an early morning walk before the sun is up. It is quiet, beautiful and just enjoyable to listen to nothing and get lost in my thoughts.
• I try to see the good in the world. We are inundated with bad news. Bad news sells and gets people to tune in. I believe that as a result of this constant barrage of bad news, our minds and thoughts have been programmed to immediately jump to a negative conclusion. I am trying to redirect my thoughts and think of more positive thoughts. So much goes on in peoples lives that we really don’t know about; wouldn’t it be kinder to give them the benefit of the doubt?
• Be proactive and don’t procrastinate. At work…not even an issue. At home…I can find nearly one million things to do to put off doing the one thing I NEED (or should) get done. I’m trying to narrow down my list and just tackle one thing per day. If that day is already filled, maybe I do one more thing on Saturday or Sunday than I do during the week. It’s a work in progress, but the goal is, don’t beat myself up for not doing twenty things every Saturday and just give myself a break. It’s OK to just sit, relax and read an enjoyable book for a bit.

Celebrating is also an important part of appreciation. This month, my little celebration is all the beautiful colors of leaves. My big celebration is my 20^th wedding anniversary! Remember to celebrate the little things and big things in your life.

I hope this encourages you to enjoy some well-deserved you time now and also when things seem to get busier for the holidays. Maybe if we create these habits now, we will have them to lean on when we need a break during the busier times.