Hello friends! I have missed you!!!
Today’s the first day of school! Today’s the first day of school!!! Oh, I’m so so glad. Summer has not really caused a change in schedule at our house (our little lady wakes up at 6am no matter what), but still I like the structure that the school year brings. I await the fall weather with excitement… I want to wear long sleeves and jeans so badly, walk in crunchy leaves, sit out on my backyard patio to watch the birds, and do all the activities that the season brings – pumpkins, flowers, long walks, being outside. By mid-November, early-December, it’ll happen.
I also saw a hilarious post on Facebook from someone who showed a pic of her kids on the first day of school (because they say humiliation is an important part of childhood), followed by a pic of her and her friends an hour after dropoff, running and jumping off of a boat into a lake in huge celebration. I am feeling that elation too, although instead of a boat, I’m heading right to a board meeting.
Anyhoo.
I may have taken a break from hitting “Publish,” but I have not taken a break from blogging. I’ve been doing all sorts of great things over here and I can hardly wait to tell you about it all. I have already written and scheduled 19 posts! (Perhaps I shouldn’t have stopped posting?) The solution: just for September, I’ll post three days a week, M/W/F.
You can tell that “summer” does not equal “relaxing” over here. But… there’s good news. I may not be slowing down, but I am getting more focused. I see a big difference in that. There’s still not enough time to do all that I want to do, but I’m narrowing it down to the top priorities.
Writing is my primary method of tapping into to my thoughts and intuitive voice, which is probably why I couldn’t stop writing blog posts in draft form. I have a need to share my truth and when I shut it off, I’m also hiding my honesty and ideas. From myself! It’s writing and also creating art when I can turn off that ego voice and do what feels good to me, getting inwardly organized and quiet. My individuality resides there, so if I don’t tap into it, I lose my sense of what makes me… well, me. Also, I lose my ability to find shades of grey in situations, moving to black/white thinking, which expresses itself in judgement, blunt expressions, and impatience. Not so fun for those around me.
Let’s see… here are the highlights and what you can look forward to hearing about:
- Probably this goes without mentioning, but I have been reading A TON this summer. There was a day there when I pondered starting a separate blog focused solely on books, but I’ve come to my senses. I am going to do more frequent book reviews here though because my monthly summaries don’t allow me to tell you fully about the goodness of some of these treasures. I have my summer reading divided into 3 posts: fiction, non-fiction, and spirituality, and also 2 posts about individual books I think you’ll like. (BTW, let’s be friends on Goodreads!)
- I’m going to be taking a couple of online classes beginning next month and I’d love to have you join along. I’ll tell you about them on Wednesday. They are offered by some of my favorite people.
- I’ve gotten into Instagram again and I am in love. I’ve made many soulful and delightful new friends. I’ll be sharing photos from the two August prompt-a-day challenges I’ve been enjoying.
- I took a quick 10-day photography course centered around the topic of vulnerability and it raised some ideas I’d like to share with you.
- I also finally overcame my resistance to taking Kelly Rae Roberts’ Hello Soul Hello Mixed-Media Mantras class. It was excellent and I learned some new techniques I’ll share.
- I’ve made time for getting my hands covered with paint and gel medium, creating cards and canvases and art for my house. Of course I will show you.
- I’ve lost 20 pounds on WW through sheer discipline and lots of chewing gum.
- I took Carol Tuttle’s Dressing Your Truth course and have learned such a great deal about my own sense of balance, beauty, and aesthetics. Knowing that I am energetically sensitive, I already deliberately create my own structure, which sometimes shows up as perfectionism and people-pleasing.
- I’ve found a bunch of new-to-me clothing stores too and have been updating and organizing my closet.
- I took some photos of some of my art, ordered mounted prints, and reopened my Etsy shop.
- In addition to Energy Profiling, I’ve been learning about our body’s energy in general. I believe I have some “leaks.” I’ve got some insight to share about where they come from (for me) and how I am creating boundaries to prevent draining my energy and allow myself more time for beauty and serenity. (Key words: self-doubt, over-giving, suffering, naiveté, judgement, blame, self-worth, Truth) BIG stuff!
- In my Mussar class, we have covered Honor, Simplicity, and Enthusiasm. I’ve got a great post about simplicity and moderation that I think you’ll like.
- Finally, not written yet but forming in my mind are explorations on Abundance, Empowerment, and Self-Love. Oh, and Perfectionism.
K, so that should carry us into 2016 right? Lol. See you on Wednesday… I’m off to pretend to take a nap. Please share in the comments how you have been and what you’ve been up to this summer. 🙂
So good to see you again Naomi. Along with writing Tidy Lady Tasks for the SoulSpace group I was able to help my daughter with her awesome wedding. Then my hubby had hip surgery, which went spendidly. And now we’re into our year of buying only local foods, which is so much fun already. Anyway, I’m glad you’re back.
kimberly recently posted…Inconvenient food… Day 7
I’m so glad to hear the wedding was so great! I’m looking forward to catching up with you. 🙂
Hi Naomi,
I must have missed this post! I am just now reading it for the first time. That is exciting because it means that there are a bunch more to read now! hee!
I have been busy this summer too. Not a lot of blogging on my part either. I’ve been busy this last month doing lots of I Ching readings! I love them! I have also been working on my house through the SoulSpace process. I’ve been getting rid of a ton of stuff. It’s been cathartic but really good!
Congrats on the end of summer!
Amy Putkonen recently posted…Recipe: Sugar-Free Granola Bars
It’s so great to hear from you, Amy! Thanks for your comments. I’m very happy to be back here writing and hearing everyone’s thoughts. It feels like part of me was missing because of my absence.
After all the purging I did with that book, I see I have more to do. I don’t think it ever ends, this battle against our stuff!
Sounds like a wonderful summer you have had with lots of soul searching and growth. May I ask how you are getting your prints done…or where? I’ve been considering exploring this myself.
Thanks, Michele! I printed them from Nations Photo Lab, NPL. Love them.
I’ve been working, reading (and posting reviews on my own blog) and participating in Toastmasters. The fall humorous speech contest is coming up, and I am hoping to do well in that.
SKJAM! recently posted…Book Review: Ben-Hur
I really wish I could watch your speech! Best of luck.
What an inspiring post. You have had a busy and WONDERFUL summer! I look forward to reading all about the various things you have learned and experienced all summer. Congrats on your success with WW!
I LOVE all of your different photos posted here. Awesome!
Elda recently posted…The Worst Thing That Has Happened
Thanks so much, Elda!!!
Glad to see you in the blog world again creating and inspiring.
sacha recently posted…The F word is good and powerful
So much to love here, Naomi! Like you, I have been taking a break from blogging (but for me, I stopped both composing AND publishing blog posts). In the past two weeks I have poured hours into redesigning my blog/web site and am close to making the switch to the new design. Oh, and I totally share your view on the structure of school time! I hate to see summer end but love the cooler weather (which is happening already NOW in Minnesota) and getting back to routines. Looking forward to your upcoming blog posts! Cheers!
Heather Koshiol recently posted…Share: On Connecting {Learning from the film Indie Kindred}
Heather, I can’t wait to see your new site! Your current one is awesome already. Thanks for stopping by!
I seriously want to see a pic of you leaping ecstatically into a board meeting. You did have that moment photographed, don’t you?
I, too, connect with my intuitive voice through writing. When I’m working with an intuition client, it comes through speaking, but for my own self, it’s through writing — longhand, in a journal, while being aware of the energy deep within my body.
Looking forward to reading your nineteen posts as they roll around next month.
Just a thought — I noticed that the link to your own Etsy shop is buried deep down in your bulleted list. Not so visible! So I’m posting the link right here in this little comment, just in case anyone’s eyes sweep past my words and land on the portal that takes them to your personal Etsydom of Art:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/PoeticAperture?ref=hdr_shop_menu
Harmony Harrison recently posted…There Are No Dogs in this Blog Post (Except for the 63 Dogs Who Snuck In): My obsession with doggie doodles, illustrated
Thank you, Harmony! I will write an art post with the Etsy news for Monday. 🙂
wow! you have been busy! inspiring stuff going on with you! With the heat in the south, it has been hard sometimes to get and stay motivated – I can’t wait for the fall! Taking my dogs for a walk, maybe a trip or two up to the mountains, and my reading changes – it will be more focused, not as scattered – have stocked up on some classics to read – currently reading Sherlock! Keep it up – can’t wait to see what online courses you signed up for – I’ve limited myself in that respect
Hi Vickie! Where do you live? I’m in Houston, so I completely understand the yuck factor in the weather! Looking forward to hearing all about your reading too!
I drove 9000 miles in my RV! I saw my favorite band 7 times in spring and summer and had a wonderful time meeting some fellow fans. For the first time ever, I got my picture taken when them. Some very generous woman gave me and Mom backstage passes for free in an Arizona casino. I took a huge number of pictures, especially of my favorite musicians. I am not sure if you’d be interested in any of those. I linked a page from the last show above. I’ve been running, hiking, biking and walking a lot and am in good health. Congratulations on your weight loss! It’s such a challenging thing for us all. I have not lost any weight this year. I read much of the Dressing Your Truth eBook and have been arguing about it with myself. It seems to suggest I am an Air person, and I object. I am so glad you’re going to be blogging more, it sounds like we have tons of great essays coming our way.
Susanna, I am so amazed by all your travels! You are definitely a dedicated REO fan. 🙂
So funny you say that about being an Air person, because I don’t feel like a Water person. However, all the rest fits me. I need to watch the video on secondary energy type as well and how to integrate that into your style and lifestyle.
Thanks so much for writing!
You were certainly very busy this summer :-). Where I am now, it is winter and I have so much work to do just weeks before finishinf my postcgraduate studies while living in the whole new continent and traveling. I will need a lot of fingers crossed for me. Love your art. Wish you many creative days this fall.
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Anna, wishing you huge luck and perseverance! xoxo