In August I was dazzled by the Solar Eclipse, warmed by the high summer heat in Cologne, and cooked along with events in my professional, creative, and personal life.
Audacious August
In the month of August:
- Had a beautiful view of the Solar Eclipse from a Cologne rooftop thanks to good friends
- Announced that the Advanced Dance Program will return to Cologne October through December and I will provide morning Ballet Technique again!
- My parents weathered multiple storms, health related and an actual Hurricane
- Ela and I had skin cancer screenings with our dermatologist, grateful for preventive care
- Joined Accepted Society to meet a global community of likeminded scholars, received support and accountability for my independent research
- My new Pointe Shoes (the first in decades) arrived!
- Participated in Cologne’s Queer March
- Hit a 2,500 day Duolingo streak!
- Feasted on nectarines and other stone fruits
- Played more Federball in the park
- Came across Dolly Parton’s Songteller book in my digital collection, then found out later that she had died, aged 80 😢
- Yayoi Kusama also passed away, these inspirational people made art until the end
Bullet Journaling & Planning
The above YouTube Video is a flip-through of the month in my Seasonal Book including goals, glows, media favorites, and events I recorded along the way.
During August I continued to work in my 2026 Annual Collections, Monthly, and Weekly spreads to plan teaching, travel, and personal events.
I shared my initial “Dino August” BuJo setup on Instagram:
Teaching & Coaching
Gave regular Mindful Movement classes in Balletlicious Ballet Barre+ and Yummy Gentle Yoga online, in-studio Ballet classes and made plans to introduce new elective classes in September and daily professional ballet classes in October.
Writing & Publishing Articles
In August I published 4 articles:
- In February I Fell Ill – 2026 Month 2 Reflection: The second month of 2026 put the challenge into “dancing through difficulty,” but I managed to celebrate love and educate about Eating Disorders while sampling this winter’s nasty viruses. Koeln Karnival carried on and I do love this city, as well as Black History Month and Eating Disorders Awareness Week.
- Picking Personal Care Favorites – Minimal Cosmetics for Maximal Creativity in Chosen Media: How fortunate I feel to be able to indulge in personal care in alignment with my personal values of sustainability, voluntary simplicity, frugality, and minimalism. This is a peek way behind-the-scenes of my daily rituals, tried-and-true personal care and cosmetic favorites which I’ve chosen to be basic, minimal, and sustainable in my current lifestyle and in relation to environmental impact. This record provides an amusing reference for my future self and perhaps of interest to other nosy/curious creatives who like to move through the world relatively lightly and well-equipped.
- March Like a Toy Soldier in “The Nutcracker” and on the Street – 2026 Month 3 & Quarter 1 Reflection: The third month of 2026 for me featured collaborating on International Women’s Day, a production of “The Nutcracker” ballet, Easter and the Spring Equinox among the bright green leaves and first butterfly appearances. Also updates on my Twenty 26s in 2026 and project focus areas.
- April in Bloom Between Cologne & Kona – 2026 Month 4 Reflection: The fourth month of 2026 featured Cherry Blossoms in Cologne, Jacaranda in Kona, and blooms everywhere in-between.
- Downward diggity Dog – Yoga Mukhasana – 16 Tips for a Happy Hound🐕: Let’s be honest, Adho Mukha Svavasana, or Downward Facing Dog, has never been my favorite yoga pose. I used to really struggle with the shape and it does not come comfortably or naturally for me due to what I perceive as limitations in lower leg flexibility, stiffness in other areas, geometry, and limiting beliefs. As a yoga and dance educator I’ve met many others who struggle with such positions. Through work with wise teachers and engagement with texts, I’ve grown to appreciate the benefits of the stance and learned to explore modifications and variations of this classic yoga form that work for me.
Filming & Sharing Videos
I published 4 videos to the A Blythe Coach YouTube Channel in August:
- Picking Personal Care Favorites – Minimal Sustainable Cosmetic Essentials to Focus & Create: It is wonderful to feel refreshed and take exquisite care of body, mind, and soul. This is a peek way behind-the-scenes of my daily rituals that accompanies the article linked above.
- June Flip & Faves – Review, Reflect, Refresh – Creative Bullet Journal of a Teaching Artist: June is one of my favorite months, being my birth month and gateway from spring to summer. Here I flip through the month in my Bullet Journal, where I decorate, plan, scrapbook, junk journal, and reflect. Included are my favorite things, including media I published & personally consumed like books read, music heard, dance, theatre, film, and series viewed, high & lowlights, appointments, classes, sessions, holidays & special events.
- On My Toes – Getting Re-Fitted – Pointe Work as a Mature Ballet Dancer, Teaching Artist & Coach: Long have I desired to get some new pointe shoes and play ballet on my toes again after many years. I’ve been teaching, but for that I haven’t needed them, but still my dancing heart had this wish. For my birthday this year I received a gift certificate for a new pair of Gaynor Mindens (my brand of choice), so I scheduled and had a virtual fitting on Zoom, ordered their recommended pair, and will keep you posted about what transpires!
- Tips for a Happy Hound – Yoga Mukhasana Pose – Yummy Gentle Downward diggity Dog: companion to the above article: If you also are challenged to get into a happy hound, consider trying one of these options excerpted from my online Yummy Gentle Yoga class that appeals to you, and experiment with reorienting your approach and execution of Downward Dog.
Connecting: Email & Social Media
Email Newsletter
The best way to keep up-to-date on everything I’m coaching, teaching, creating and sharing about as well as work from others that I believe to be of value for fellow creatives is to subscribe to my email newsletter.
I sent 1 Email Newsletter in August, “Back to School, Summer’s End, Minimal Makeup & Self Care for maximal creativity elsewhere“
Socials
In August I also posted nine times to Instagram. It is my honor to be connected to you there, here, online and in-person!
Creative Challenges
In August my creative “challenges” included teaching dance, video filming, editing and writing, and indulging my Artist Child with Summer Camp-style Arts & Crafts.
Media Musings
My August in reading, listening, and viewing pleasures:
Books & Reading
Books
In August I didn’t finish any books, but was working on a couple novels:
- The Shell Seekers in progress on Kindle, sweeping and only 30% in on my second lending from the library, bought a paperback copy of my own and also listening to the audiobook on Libby.
- The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert is a similar situation, purchased the book after enjoying but not finishing my digital library loan, also dipping into the audiobook version.
Listening Highlights
Favorite things heard over the course of the month go here, such as concerts, songs, pieces of music, playlists, podcasts and more.
Music
Songs & Pieces of Music
- “Girls and Boys” by Blur
- “Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles
Playlists & Albums
- ☀️ Balletlicious Summertime Dance 🩰 playlist on YouTube holds my perennial favorites for this time of year as well as new finds
- Heatwave! playlist on YouTube, was inspired by the sizzling extreme temperatures this summer
- 2026 Plucky Tunes playlist on YouTube is a new one to collect all the best new tracks and classic melodies that come up over the course of the year
Viewing Highlights
A few things I saw in August:
Live Sights
- Solar Eclipse viewing at Savoy rooftop bar
- Rose Garden at Fort X, jet trails ✈️ 🌹
- Gala im Dreck: Garde Illustriert Magazine Publishing Party, Garde Gu, Sexarbeiter*innen
Sports
- Completed watching the highlights from the July Grand Sumo Tournament
- The inaugural season of Women’s Pro Baseball ⚾️ with the WPBL was exciting to witness
YouTube/Podcast
- The Perinanigans Podcast on YouTube hosted by Elizabeth DiAlto & Brandi Holmes is humorous and factual gold for this fun perimenopausal time of life
Film
- “The Last Showgirl” film is poignant and Jamie Lee Curtis was my favorite part
Series Streamed
- “What Jennifer Did” a truly disturbing Canadian true crime documentary
- Started the much-hyped “Heated Rivalry” series, which I nicknamed “Horny Hockey Players,” but seriously, kind of a sweet romance in the end and the actors certainly have good chemistry!
- “Star Trek: Next Generation” continues to be our watch to unwind
Questions for Reflection
- What projects are your passion currently?
- What highlights, lowlights, and lessons have you experienced?
- What will you enjoy before the end of the year?
- To what shall I listen next?
Resources for Further Exploration
- Pluck Luck in 2026 – Word / Intention of the Year article
- Twenty 26s in 2026: Analog Project Planning & Action Tracking, Creative Bullet Journal Style article
- Whimsical Summer Arts & Crafts Camp – Creative Experiences to Treat Your Artist Child article
- Say the Magic Words article
- Analog Journals for Creativity article
Thank you for reading, for being, and for dancing with me, in spirit or in fact.
Take care of yourself and keep moving mindfully, let me know how I can be of service, would love to see you in my email newsletter or on social media as well.
Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst they/she
Creator of A Blythe Coach @ablythecoach
dancing through difficulty
taking leaps of faith