Attention to Health Care

Monday is my day to reset for the week and

 get my ducks in a row - make some plans for health and home, and how I will step up for the Natural Living Challenge.

Since I'm out-of-town, I'll focus on health care today. And because I'm in the yin time of the waxing crescent moon, I'll take time to discern and create clarity. 

Agenda:

1. Read "How to Keep House While Drowning"

2. My health care priorities

3. Depth of purpose rituals

4. Create clarity

Sabbath for Attention

Sunday is my day to be quiet (at least for a while), with the spirit, in contemplation and prayer, and in community with nature and other bipeds.

The sabbath is a celebration, a holiday. I keep it holy with my attitude: I don't rush, complain, or worry. Everything I do has a flavor of peace. I schedule some work, but it's work I find fulfilling, or uplifting. Simple is a great word to describe my ideal activities for the sabbath: Simple tasks, simple foods, and an undemanding schedule.

And then - on the road again!

Agenda:

1. Read "Your Heart Was Made for This"

2. Journal challenges and needs

3. Nurturing my intentions

4. Expressing Needs in the World

Friday Proaction

Friday is my day for proaction: Proaction is taking initiative to anticipate and shape future events rather than simply reacting to circumstances as they happen. Some people think Covey should've just used the word ACT, but proaction requires a thought: "I could do this or I could do that; I choose to do this."

Agenda:

1. Summer action plan

3. Proaction and reciprocity plans

Make Things

Thursday is my day to open the door to creative thinking and doing; I've reverted to an earlier phase of my life, before painting and art school, when I was internally driven to Make Things, and they were varied and creative. But I'm also a different person now - as Grandma Earth Teacher I am led to make things that are a gift to the Earth in some way, sustainable, and with a message. 

Also, I (usually) need to prepare for the next week of Grandma Camps, with themes, projects, and field trips (but not this week).

Agenda: 

1. Read "The Sweet Spot"

2. Projects for the week

Doing and Being

Wednesday is my day to re-group and re-define my week. First I make a plan for getting over the bump of the mid-week, then I re-envision my emotional tone and perspective.

Agenda today:

1. My bump plan

2. Read "The Achievement Habit"

3. Beingness routines

4. Writing themes and passion plan

New Lotus Moon

The new moon rises today; the Chinese call the sixth new moon the Lotus Moon. The lotus is the "flower of open-heartedness", an emblem of purity, fruitfulness (because of its many seeds) and creative power. And since lotus leaves protect the goldfish under them (a symbol of prosperity), the lotus also symbolizes abundance year after year.

Detail from "Connect", acrylic

A lotus flower grows out of the mud, and blossoms above the muddy water surface. Buddhists teach that, like a lotus, we can rise above the suffering and conflicts of life. The Lotus Moon, then, is the natural time to dig into the mud of my life, and seek out the best ways to grow above the fray.

Agenda:

1. Retreat Day

2. Read "How to Deal with Anger"

3. New narrative for anger management

4. Choose a month theme

5. Set intentions

Monday

Monday is my day to reset for the week and get my ducks in a row - make some plans for health and home, and how I will step up for the Natural Living Challenge.

Agenda:

1. Read "How to Keep House While Drowning"

2. Giving Each Thing a Home

3. 

July Garden

July is usually hot in our valley, but it's not been bad yet. And luckily we always have cool mornings. Most big garden projects have been completed, the yard is blooming with lots of flowers, and we have dragonflies, butterflies, and all sizes of bees.

It's too late to plant most summer veggies, and too early to start fall crops, so my focus in early July is on garden care - watering, weeding, mulching - and on HARVEST.

Agenda:

1. July harvest

2. July tasks

3. July planting tips

Talk to the Land

Friday is my day for proaction: Proaction is taking initiative to anticipate and shape future events rather than simply reacting to circumstances as they happen. Some people think Covey should've just used the word ACT, but proaction requires a thought: "I could do this or I could do that; I choose to do this."

Agenda:

1. Read "Revolutionary Witchcraft"

2. Summer action plan

3. Proaction and reciprocity plans

Preparedness

Thursday is my day to open the door to creative thinking and doing; I've reverted to an earlier phase of my life, before painting and art school, when I was internally driven to Make Things, and they were varied and creative. But I'm also a different person now - as Grandma Earth Teacher I am led to make things that are a gift to the Earth in some way, sustainable, and with a message. 

Also, I need to prepare for the next week of Grandma Camps, with themes, projects, and field trips.

And thirdly, I've got lots of projects that help us function better: Fixing broken things and maintaining the house.

Agenda: 

1. Read "The Sweet Spot"

2. Artwork habit

3. Camp preparedness

4. Projects for the week

Mid-Week Doing and Being

Wednesday is my day to re-group and re-define my week. First I make a plan for getting over the bump of the mid-week, then I re-envision my emotional tone and perspective.

This week I'm feeling pressured to get ready for visitors - what are the priorities? 

Agenda today:

1. My bump plan

2. Read "The Achievement Habit"

3. Beingness routines 

4. New narrative for attention

5. Writing themes and passion plan

Third Quarter Moon of July

Tonight is the waning Third Quarter moon of July. Today's moon energy is yin - quiet, internal, heart-driven, intentional Being-ness. At this phase we can ease off a bit on actively pursuing goals, slow down, go within, and attend to inner work, renewal, and self-care.

July is a month of passion, courage, and stretching. Today I will pause to consider what I'm stretching towards.

Tuesday is my day to look at my social and emotional self, and make an effort to shift my perspectives around how I view and treat the people in my life.

Agenda:

1. Read "How to Deal with Anger"

2. Meditation and Evaluation Journal

3. Ritual for Release and Realignment

4. Surrender, rest, recuperate

Gentle Monday

Monday is my day to reset for the week and get my ducks in a row - make some plans for health and home, and how I will step up for the Natural Living Challenge.

Agenda:

1. Read "How to Keep House While Drowning"

2. Giving Each Thing a Home

3. Water habit

July Sabbath for Passion

The month of July is a golden time of passion and activity. Nature celebrates the peak of its power, the sun reaches her highest point, and I do the same; every day I get to share my light with the world. I put my best and brightest energy into my projects, my garden, and my art. I seek out chances to be courageous, and extend myself beyond what’s comfortable.

The question for July is How do I shine through the clouds?

“Hold the sadness and pain of samsara in your heart and at the same time the power and vision of the Great Eastern Sun. Then the warrior can make a proper cup of tea.”

~ Chogyam Trungpa

Agenda:

1. Read "Your Heart Was Made for This"

2. Expressing Needs in the World

3. Renewal Brainstorm

Friday Becomes Thursday

Thursday is my day to open the door to creative thinking and doing; I've reverted to an earlier phase of my life, before painting and art school, when I was internally driven to Make Things, and they were varied and creative. But I'm also a different person now - as Grandma Earth Teacher I am led to make things that are a gift to the Earth in some way, sustainable, and with a message. 

Also, I need to prepare for the next week of Grandma Camps, with themes, projects, and field trips.

And thirdly, I've got lots of projects that help us function better: Fixing broken things and maintaining the house.

Agenda: 

1. Read "The Sweet Spot"

2. Artwork

3. House projects

4. Camp preparedness

5. Projects for the week

6. Generosity practice

Thursday becomes Wednesday

Wednesday is my day to re-group and re-define my week. First I make a plan for getting over the bump of the mid-week, then I re-envision my emotional tone and perspective.

This week I've lost a day due to our Portland trip, so I feel particularly out-of-balance. How can I become grounded and energized? 

Agenda today:

1. My bump plan

2. Read "The Achievement Habit"

3. Writing themes and passion plan

4. Beingness routines

Wednesday Becomes Tuesday

Tuesday is my day to look at my social and emotional self, make an effort to shift my perspectives around how I view and treat the people in my life, and get ready for a week of fun activities with my grandsons.

Agenda:

1. Read "How to Deal with Anger"

2. Discern my receptivity

3. Love meditation