Changing Heads

I’m happy to report that August Fest was epic!

Each year I take August off, and this year I ramped it up a notch in honour of my 50th birthday.

I partied in Spain with my cousins, glamped with my husband and daughter, swam in a lake on the morning of my birthday, discovered a new favourite beach, had a barrel of laughs on the bumper cars with my family in Ireland, clambered up giant inflatables (and overcame my fear of heights!) with my daughter in the Albert Docks in Liverpool, and hosted a birthday gathering with two girlfriends.🎉

Yep, flying the flag for flourishing women.💃🏾

I feel abundant and full…like the aubergines in our polytunnel!💗😂

Unsurprisingly, I was resistant to it all ending.😩

Let’s just say my husband was keeping out of my way last Sunday evening!

Transitions can be tricky…

When I finish a morning’s work or writing session, and I’m heading off to school pick up, I often feel like the TV scarecrow character, Worzel Gummidge, who used to change heads. Sometimes he’d have difficulty getting one off and the other one on!

And there are times when switching heads can feel extra difficult…

The very first day my daughter started school I came home, watched the movie, Bad Moms on Netflix, laughed, cried, ate chocolate, and had a long soak in the bath.

Since then, I’ve continued the practice of taking the first day of the new term off – I mark it in my diary as “Transition Day”.

This week I’m giving myself space and time to have a gentle start, spending a little more time back in the chair each day. I’m keeping the afternoons and evenings free so I can spend time with my daughter after school… and perform my role as her PA!

As in the garden, so in life…

Out in the garden, there’s so much that COULD be done. But I know that this growing season is coming to an end, and that the wheel of the year will turn. So I ask myself, does it NEED to be done? Can I leave it for now?

One thing we are focusing on is sowing salads under cover. I love having lots of green leaves to eat throughout the winter.😋

In my own life, I want to make the most of the second (final) year of my Creative Writing MA. So this weekend I’ll be clarifying my module timetable, finding out about the bonus language option and booking that in.

What does being compassionate with yourself look like?

What’s one thing you want to enjoy over the winter?

What’s a simple action you could take to honour that?

Let’s flourish together!

Arlene x