And Just Like That…

It’s October.

Behind us are the months and days of turmoil. So many around us suffering a loss of some kind. My step-brother navigating around FuckingCancer. Julie redefining what her life and work looks like. Audra managing the loss of her sweet pup Wylie Coyote. The grieving over lost loved ones like MRM, the grieving over relationships and marriages that have dissolved. It seems that this summer was chock full of challenges for us all on some level.

I’m not suggesting that with a fresh calendar page all of everything is automatically wiped clean and now sparkles.

But there *is something nice about October.

It’s always been the beginning of my Magic Time. Audra’s birthday, so many friends’ birthday’s actually (hey Libras!) Halloween, then my birthday and the holidays…the shift in the weather, all of it wraps up into a magical powerful time for me. I look forward to it, refueling my soul from the break-neck summer.

Did I tell you I’m taking a life writing/memoir class? I am. Online, for 6 weeks. So far I’m really liking it. It works for my schedule, I have committed time during the week to write, though I would love to have more, that sanctuary “room of one’s own” space, I haven’t taken the time to create that so here I sit at the kitchen table. Typing away on my sweet old machine. It’s been interesting. Difficult at times. But I am enjoying the process. It fits with this time for me, the creative months.

I finished reading Brene Brown’s Rising Strong and so much has stayed with me. Several tenants of the theory, and when I give myself a little more time I’m going back to work fully on the entire process. The one that I’ve taken to heart though, is the one that says:

When we combine the courage to make clear what works for us and what doesn’t, with the compassion to assume that people are doing their best, our lives change. 

I can’t tell you how often I mutter to myself, “she’s doing her best. She’s doing her best” while I’m at work. Or really giving thought to what works for me, and what doesn’t. Am I saying yes but screaming NO inside? Am I holding a grudge or standing in self righteousness about this? why?

am I doing the best I can? 

And it’s kind of amazing the way it’s working for me.

If you haven’t read the book, I highly recommend it. She speaks some solid truths, that Brene’ Brown.

So today, as we begin a fresh month, and look forward to fires on the porch decorated with mums and pumpkins (got mine last weekend–and seriously if you have an Aldi store near you get your pumpkins there. SO cheap!) I also look forward to the magic of the season. I hope some of it flows your way, too.