By the time you read this, most children and college students of all ages will have returned to the rhythm and structure of education. For those of us that live where the weather changes, we can look forward to fall. Cooler mornings and evenings, crisp air, and even early season precipitation. As much as I look forward to the longer days of summer and the warm weather, when fall starts heading our way I remember how much I love the changing light and autumn colors.
As a bonus, here in Northern Nevada, we end summer and bring in September with Great Reno Balloon Races (GRBR). People come from all over the world to walk out on the field in the predawn darkness to saunter among flight teams as they assemble the baskets and fill the envelopes with hot air before taking off in a mass ascension.
Always in the background: music, inspiring and connecting spectators of all ages to what’s possible when we lift our eyes toward the skies and release that which tethers us to the ground.
When we breathe in the morning and are literally “inspired”. Since calling this area my home nearly 30 years ago, I’ve missed only a handful of GRBR events. This blog isn’t about the GRBR or leaving summer and entering autumn, as tempting as that is. It’s about remembering what was learned over the past month. It’s about packing up our ‘summer gear’ so that the inspiration and energy that came from time outside and longer days can nurture and fuel us post-Labor Day.
This week we recap key points from August’s blogs, including a couple of “takeaways” from one or two of our August podcasts. So, get comfy and let’s dive in.
We started August off with a question: Are You Stretching to Catch the Winds of Change? As we are feeling the tailwind of Summertime blowing in, it’s important to recognize that there are so many opportunities still ahead before the end of the year. How do you know if you need to be more intentional? I shared my personal “vacation revelation” from two years before, when I had to own up to the reality that I was trying to fit into a role that no longer fit who I was becoming. I was confident and comfortable as a professional, yet setting aside my goals and dreams. I shook hands with the cold reality that I needed to move out of comfort and make a change. I needed to put on different “lenses”, see what I was ignoring, and get back on my own path. Like so many other women, I slowly became disconnected from my inner knowing as I focused what I thought I should be doing. A great many of those things were no longer a fit. It was time to quit following someone else’s image or plan for my future (including a vision set by me at a younger age) out of habit or inertia.
The second post in August we talked about Changing and Growing Past Your Potential – pushing through the gates of change. Since many of us have experienced hesitation when standing at the threshold of change, we shared a quick exercise to help move beyond the muck and mud that is indecision. The simple, yet useful exercise can be completed with just a pen and paper, and some quiet time to think. (No privacy where you are? No problem, try the white noise solution: go to where there are people having a lot of different conversations (like a coffee house) and do the exercise there. When you’re settled in, just draw two lines to divide your page into three columns. List your fears or worries in the first, what evidence or truth supports the fear in the second column, and how you could respond if your fears came to pass in the third. For the full instructions, click here.
That exercise can help to work through the inner dialogues that plague us and slow our progress. Whether it’s the debate we have with our self when someone wants to make their priority ours (thereby derailing our day and success, or when we need to hold ourselves accountable for promises and commitments made to ourselves, often around our health and wellness. My suggestion? Take a lesson from dogs and busses.
Dogs are masters of letting go and being in the moment. When they settle, they release and relax. I watch our dogs do that all the time. Playing Frisbee one minute, can’t imagine stopping. Chow time is another focus time, where eating becomes the most important activity. Time for bed? Three circles and all settled in. Something to aspire to, especially when we feel worried about change or things left undone. Carrying worry makes the work that much more difficult. Set it down. Simply settle and release.
As for busses, it’s all about recognizing another will be coming along if you miss the first one. It may be a blessing that you missed the one you wanted, you never know. But, once it’s gone, focus on getting on the next one, no point in fixating on the one you missed. Moral of the story: Expect changes and disappointments, even to your best-laid plans.
Our third post in August addressed personal priorities and setting expectations. Recognizing the many challenges, obstacles and surprises that pop up during our days, we shared some ways to overcome those eventualities, while still keeping a tight hold on our sanity. With so many obligations, it’s crucial to take time to prioritize. In such a fast-paced, demanding world, it helps to know how and to practice setting expectations for others about when and how they are likely to hear from us. We shared some basic tips (e.g., email auto responders, only checking email and texts at predetermined intervals, taking a break and walking away from your work to stretch or drink water every 60 to 90 minutes; and setting up emergency notification processes). Then,with some or all of that in place: practice, practice, and more practice. We acknowledged that unless we are clear for ourselves, it is hard for others to know and respect our boundaries.
Finally, in last week’s post, we talked about having a “rear view mirror” and the ability to sit down with your younger self to share some tips or encouragement about the road ahead. The suggestions offered here came from the many conversations I have with people around this topic (no matter their background, age, career, or current situation) as part of the No Labels, No Limits podcast. The more I speak with successful folks, the more I hear similar themes. We love to share inspirational thoughts, so here are just a few that keep coming up:
- You’ll never feel 100% ready, you just have to start.
- There are many ways forward, but the path can only be made by taking one step after the next.
- Ask for help when you need it. (Ask sooner than you think you need to.)
- Trust in yourself. Everyone else feels doubt, too.
We reminded readers that our path through life doesn’t come with a clearly defined roadmap. We have so much to learn from one another, and knowledge to help the next person on their way. Powerful life lessons surround us, visible everyday. Each of us can ask what we can do to give back or share our insights to help others. We each have a part to play in inspiring and influencing the people who cross our path. As each of us make an effort to help others, we will light the way for those to come.
We here at SarahBoxx.com try to encourage others in as many ways as we can. Feel free to check out our blog, our podcast or our Facebook page for more motivation and inspiration on your path through life. Take time to stop and enjoy the changing seasons and schedules. #WelcomeFall
