Slow progress

I'm making slow progress on my big passion project, writing a book about Nature-Culture. The research of a new topic - water, drought, and pollution - is daunting. I have so much to learn. Also, I continue to be very busy with social obligations, doctor appointments, fundraiser events, and childcare. The trick is to get organized the night before so I don't eat into my writing time in the morning.

Agenda Today:

1. 

Read 

"Brainstorm"

2.

 Five days of passion

3. Outdoor preschool brainstorm

1. Read "Brainstorm":

I got this book called "Brainstorm: Harnessing the Power of Productive Obsession" (2010), by my favorite writing and art guru, Eric Maisel, several years ago, and I'm finally reading it!

Chapter 22 is Obsessing in the Middle Things - (I skipped some chapters that were of no relevance to me) - about squeezing productive obsession into an already jam-packed life. 

The first step is to believe that your project is meaningful and matters; you need to proclaim it often: "My book matters!"

Next, you need to stop wasting any moments of time available to work on your project; whenever a moment arises, turn it into intentional meaning-making. Also, get more efficient with your other responsibilities so you can carve out more time for your project. But don't forget to give attention to the important people in your life!

2. Five days of passion: 

The next five days (Thursday through Monday) are the best block of time I have to obsess. My Nature-Culture theme this week is water, drought, plastic and pollution, and rain gardens:

• 
  Plan fall themes, projects, and skills for teaching Nature-Culture to kids - Outdoor preschool!
• Send out an Earthcare meeting agenda and ideas for advocacy and restoration work
• Write about stormwater rain gardens and water-wise planting.
• Garden: Mulch new butterfly beds, improve soil fertility, and remove invasive plants.
• Brainstorm craftivism projects for clean water.
• Write about awareness and eco-spiritual practices with bodies of water.
• Lead a brainstorm on earthcare actions with my Meeting
• Write about water wisdom; Rethinking cleaning supplies (because of streams); plastics, oil, what else?
• Plan for my own cleaning supplies
• Paint butterflies in the bathroom
• Visit water - test an awareness ceremony

2. Outdoor preschool brainstorm:

I'm thinking of a River theme, to follow our Fishes theme: 

• Get river books on Sunday or Monday.
• Visit the new riverfront park on Tuesday.
• Play with boats in old rain gutter. Add rocks, build a dam...