Simple Goals

I've focused this month on paring down for fall and building my strength of letting go: Less on my schedule, less clutter, less spending, less clinging to control - and more of choosing the essentials in my life. 

Now, as I'm choosing goals for the new month, and I want to consider how much I can manage this fall and winter - How can I pare down? What are my essential priorities? Am I capable of setting aside some of the important work I've begun?

Agenda:

1. Read "The Power of Less"
2. Simple goals

3. The Simple Project List
4. Fall cleaning and gardening

Autumn Nature-Culture

Nature-culture is my way to live as part of nature; sharing my resources with those who share theirs (the bees and the birds, etc.); becoming more aware of nature's needs so I can be a better neighbor; changing my habits so I can cause less harm.

My working definition of Nature-culture is "Humans living in unity with nature: acting in ways that create shared spaces that mimic the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems."

As we move into autumn, I've set myself some simple goals.

Agenda:

1. Stay in touch with my fall ecosystem

2. Wildlife garden tasks for autumn

3. Regenerative food garden tasks

4. Set some fall goals for causing less harm

5. Bee advocate preparations

Days of Grandsons

Our days are defined right now by our grandsons; we plan all else around them, and they make us who we are.

They are with us on most days of the week, rain or shine and in sickness and health. Our house is filled with toys and kid-friendly furniture. We schedule around them and for them. We are exhausted by them and miss them terribly when they are gone.

On Grandson Days we prepare for field trips, library visits, collection walks, and art projects. I think about how I will include them in my garden work and in my cooking. And I remember to be flexible, because I never know when they will be interested and when they will not. 

1. Read "The Creativity Book"

2. Teaching art

3. Collection walks

4. Acorn and pinecone rolly-polly painting

5. Seed medallion

Self-Cultivation

I've been reviewing some of the transformative habits I've developed over the years. Earlier this month I wrote about spiritual growth and awareness practices, and now I will touch on self-cultivation and self-management.

Self-cultivation starts with knowing yourself. My favorite assessment tool is the Friendly Style Profile personality system, an inventory of your personality strengths and excesses. The categories are easier to learn than some profile systems, but flexible enough to be inclusive of every unique individual.

When I learned this system it changed my life, because I finally gained clarity about why I get into repeated conflicts in certain similar situations, how my behaviors provoke certain people, and also what my strengths and preferences are. It helped me to understand the complexity of a personality, the underlying logic of my responses to situations, and ultimately helped me to tone down my most troublesome responses and behaviors. 

Personality tools give you a new perspective and self-awareness, but remember that they are all generalizations and do not define you.

Agenda:

1. Manage myself

2. Start a self-cultivation project

3. Practice virtue habits

Third Quarter Moon of Late September

Today is the Third Quarter Moon: This waning 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 and self-care.

On this last week of September, when autumn is upon us (and my foundations are shaking), my focus turns to equanimity and tying up loose ends.

Agenda:

1. Read "The Power of Now"

2. Renewal plan

3. Evaluation House

4. Monthly journal brainstorm

5. 

Surrender, rest, recuperate

Autumn Equinox

The autumn equinox occurs this morning at 5:43 a.m. in the Pacific Northwest. Summer is over and darkness will again catch up to the light.

The rains have already begun (hallelujah!), Canadian geese are on the move south, the leaves are turning and beginning to drop, and night temperatures are cooler. Everything in nature is paring down, and moving energy to the roots and into the earth.

Mark the Start of Autumn:

1. Journal queries

2. Sustainable straw collecting

3. Make a straw doll

4. Fall cleaning and gardening