November.
Hi friends,
I am constantly reminded that we are approaching the end of the year. The falling leaves solidify this reminder. As the trees reach their vibrant browns and reds, winter is looming in the background. Soon there will be no leaves, no flowers in bloom, just bare trees and dying grass. This is a fact of life, seasons change and luckily change is constant.
We aren’t in winter yet, so there’s no need to worry about what is to come. Don’t worry about tomorrow, for today’s troubles are enough. Right now, we are in peak fall and that’s something to bask in. November is here, with another full month ahead of us.
I haven’t taken a moment to plan for the month ahead in a while. I usually use the 12-week plan to organize my goals and strategies. However, I did not revisit it when the planned 12 weeks ended in September. Part of that was realizing I planned a bit too much, which prevented me from starting and finishing.
What is the focus?
As I prepare for the busy month ahead, my focus will be on finding peace in routine. I have tried complex routines and failed, but I have also noticed some things that work. Getting up at 6 and going for a walk worked well in late summer, but does not now as it is dark at 6. Knowing that I want a low-impact way of regular movement, I will have to change what that looks like. I also realized I am my most creative self between the hours of 10-12. Instead of fighting against what feels natural or what time allows, I want to give myself grace by creating routines that work with my current lifestyle.
What’s on tap for November?
First thing, I am moving! I will be moving over the course of two weekends since I have an overlap between my current apartment and the new one. The first weekend will be with my lovely parents, moving just basic items that can be transported by car. The second weekend will tackle the large furniture with movers. Naturally, this means November will be filled with packing and unpacking and that is the first priority.
Next, major events! I will be traveling to DC for a friend’s birthday in the middle of the month as well. Then a few weeks after that, we have Thanksgiving! I will be traveling again to DC and then back to Philadelphia.
So what does this mean for this month?
My theme for November is taking it one step at a time. There is a lot of transition happening all at once. There is no question that this will be a busy month. I also think we can solidly agree moving is not fun. But every day I have the choice to find peace and slowness. To do this, I will aim for a non-rushed morning devotion, movement each week, and a commitment to reading. I will not beat myself up by pressuring myself to do several things every day (only one of the three things is a daily goal). I am also encouraging myself to pursue the things I want to do. Moving is one of those things and I am very excited about the apartment building I am moving to. I am also adding back audio to Of Love and Light through the podcast feature! This is something I dabbled with and have been wanting to bring it back.
One thing I will ALWAYS say is: give yourself grace. Think about what your current lifestyle needs. Maybe it’s not slowness, maybe it’s time to ramp things up? Maybe it is rest. I encourage you this week to be realistic with what you can and cannot do!
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