Holiday Mindset

The holiday season is upon us. I'm planning for Thanksgiving, making Christmas gifts, and preparing for advent.

My top four tips for keeping these next months special are:

• Keep the main thing the main thing: Be clear on my holiday intentions and set priorities each week.
• Focus on savoring experiences like good meals, nature walks, and decorating together.
• Communicate early with everyone involved to confirm  schedules and priorities. 
• Don’t overspend on gifts; instead, make as many as possible and buy used books and toys.

Tuesday is my receptivity day of the week, when I 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.

The new moon is the start of the lunar cycle, a time of high energy and clear thinking. Historically, the new moon is when women took time to be alone; it's a time to retreat, set intentions, and initiate something new. (After a socially overwhelming weekend I need to retreat!)

Agenda: 

1. Holiday mindset

2. Read "How to Deal with Anger"

3. My anger journal

4. Family Teamwork

5. Abundance journal

6. Squirrel plans

Retreat for Home and Body

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.

The new moon is the start of the lunar cycle, a time of high energy and clear thinking. Historically, the new moon is when women took time to be alone; it's a time to retreat, set intentions, and initiate something new. (After a socially overwhelming weekend I need to retreat!)

Agenda:

1. Read "Simplify Your Space"

2. Giving each thing a home

3. Health habits

4. Set intentions

5. Abundance journal

New Kindly Moon and Diwali

Tonight is the night of the new moon. The Chinese call this tenth new moon the Kindly Moon. In China, this is the season for winter crop planting, and this month brings the first “little snow” which gently (and kindly) moistens the winter wheat seedlings. We don't have snow, but we've had a kindly bit of rain.

The new moon is the start of the lunar cycle, a time of high energy and clear thinking. Historically, the new moon is when women took time to be alone; it's a time to retreat, set intentions, and initiate something new.

In late November everything begins to slow down, and I try to remember to be more aware of time flowing; to find the right tempo for each activity; and to transition calmly. Advent will bring a wealth of activity, so take time this week to savor the changing season. Remember, as Waverly Fitzgerald says in Slow Time, that time is "much more fluid and mysterious than I had imagined."

This is also the start of the five day Hindu Festival of Diwali, which falls on the new moon of late October or early November. Diwali is the festival of good luck and prosperity- one of the most important festivals of the year for Hindus. On Diwali, people wear new clothes, clean and decorate their homes, go to fairs with music, dancing, fireworks, jugglers and snake charmers, and give gifts to each other.

1. Retreat Day

2. Choose a month theme

3. Puja for prosperity

4. Read "Focus on the Good Stuff"

5. Start an Abundance Journal

6. Make almond katli

7. Write a gratitude

Saturday for Brainstorming

Saturday 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."

This is the time of the waning crescent "balsamic moon" - the final yin phase, a pause that marks the end point in this cycle. Now we can ease off a bit on actively pursuing goals, slow down, go within, and attend to inner work, renewal, and self-care. This is when I dream and brainstorm about the next moon theme, renewal, and goals.

Agenda Today:

1. Brainstorm for next moon

2. Weekly "First Things First"

3. Proaction and reciprocity plans

Friday

Friday is my day for creative thinking and doing; 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 after-school time: A calm flow with some repeatable fun learning and ongoing fall projects.

This is the time of the waning crescent "balsamic moon" - the final yin phase, a pause that marks the end point in this cycle. Now we can ease off a bit on actively pursuing goals, slow down, go within, and attend to inner work, renewal, and self-care. This is when I dream and brainstorm about the next moon theme, renewal, and goals.

Agenda:

1. Read "The Gratitude Formula"

2. Renewal brainstorm

3. Priority projects plan

4. Grandson plans

Leaning Into fall

Thursday is garden day, for re-envisioning and planning next steps to create a sanctuary here for nature and my family; and how to get my grandsons into the garden.

This is the time of the waning crescent "balsamic moon" - the final yin phase, a pause that marks the end point in this cycle. Now we can ease off a bit on actively pursuing goals, slow down, go within, and attend to inner work, renewal, and self-care. This is when I dream and brainstorm about the next moon theme, renewal, and goals.

 

Today:

1. Brainstorm for gratitude

2. November garden tasks

3. This week's garden plan

4. Nature-culture flow and kid projects