October | 2015 | Open Space Practice, (AKA: A Thousand Shades of Gray)

1. Fall color. It was a long time coming this year.

2. Happy office plants. I had to bring them home while we were in a temporary location as they refurbished our building, and they did not thrive. They are all blooming and growing like crazy now that they are back in my CSU office.

3. Sam. He’s such a goof, so particular about everything, wanting and needing things to be the same and happen at the “right” times, so sweet but also kind of unsure of himself.

4. Ringo Blue. The one thing I wished for when we got a new dog after losing Dexter was one who liked to cuddle, and lately he’s really been getting the hang of it. We took a two hour nap together the other day and it was magic.

5. Anniversary flowers. We always say we aren’t getting each other anything, but then he gets me a little something anyway.

Bonus joy: healthy dogs (I was reminded that this time last year Ringo had a horrible case of kennel cough), good books — so many good books, our Homecoming open house happening today so that it will finally be over and we can get back to the real work, Friday, time to rest, sleeping in, my foot getting better and better, clean water, just a few more tiny tomatoes.

gutted 1. Truth: I’m feeling a bit like this pumpkin. Hollowed out, gutted, used up. I left for work yesterday morning and this pumpkin only had a few bite marks. When I pulled into the driveway that same evening, a squirrel was head and shoulders deep in it. Yes, I’m nourishing others, but I’m not doing so great right now at nourishing myself.

2. Truth: Since I’ve been back at my CSU job, I haven’t taken more than a few days off. I’m trying to do both this full time work and still manage my side gigs. It doesn’t really work, but I can’t seem to give anything up. I want to do ALL THE THINGS. I also have a real problem with FOMO.

3. Truth: I’m trying to be better about this. This morning, I taught my yoga class and instead of going straight to work after, I stayed for meditation. I’m going to take a day of rest tomorrow because my eyes hurt, I’ve had a headache for three days, and I need to get some rest before I really crash.

One wish: That we give ourselves permission to rest when we need it, that we nourish ourselves, that we honor our limits as well as our longing, that we balance our effort with ease.