A Blythe Coach

February was for Love, Eating Disorder Awareness, Dancing Up a Storm – 2024 Month 2 Review

I hope you had a February full of your favorite things. For me, the month included celebrating Black History Month (02:25 in the video below) along with creators @plantkween @blairimani @isaiah_esquire @black.nutritionist @queeragenda), Leap Day, the first flowers of the year (07:20 in the video below), these birdsongs and the First Flower Full Moon, Valentine’s Day, Karneval (a huge deal in Cologne), and Eating Disorders Awareness Week as well as my ongoing work and projects and other special events.

Happy Lunar New Year as well to those who celebrated!

“Am I your Instagram boyfriend?” – Ela, cameraperson for “R,” best gf

Ela and I, Cologne skyline on the scene of my “R” Alphabet Superset video

February Mood & Timeline

In February things tend to get rolling for the year and 2024 was no different, as I taught and coached online, regular classes in schools and studios as well as additionally substitute teaching for colleagues on vacation.

Working on exercises and technique for a ballet exam coming up, as well as foundational work for centre, turns, and jumps with my adult students. Choreography sketches for Alphabet Superset continued to be a creative focus, and we took part in a lot of socializing for Karneval and other events.

Lots of friends, family, colleagues, and students also got sick this month, but I managed to stay well, which was a huge blessing as I worked to make progress with my first quarter goals.

With winter still in effect and spring flirting with us, I drank a lot of coffee and cocoa and curled up in flannel a lot in February, but also tried to get out and enjoy the moments of sun and witness the phenomenal early signs that spring is coming!

Teaching & Coaching

Started to get “in the swing” of my spring schedule of classes and sessions in February, though I anticipate shifts and changes through the season and year. Kept very active also substitute teaching for multiple colleagues and trialing classes in a new location.

Online Mindful Movement classes in Balletlicious Ballet Barre+ and Yummy Gentle Yoga have been ongoing, and I will continue to share as further offerings become available and my schedule evolves this spring and beyond.

Reflecting on February in my BuJo video on YouTube, links provided for major topics

Bullet Journaling & Planning

The above YouTube Video is a flip-through of February 2024 in my “Winter” Nov-Feb Seasonal Book Bullet Journal, with some commentary and thoughts along the way and links sprinkled throughout this article.

In February I completed my March setup in a new “Spring” Seasonal/Quarterly Book (Moleskine Cahiers last me 3-4 months for this purpose), updated my Monthly, Weekly, and Daily logs and Annual Collections. One of the Annual Collections I had the opportunity to update is my “Twenty-four 24s in 2024,” for which I detail below under “Creative Chosen Challenges.”

Creative Chosen Challenges

Hosting and participating in challenges and workshops has already become an important part of 2024 as they were in 2023. Here are a few I hosted and participated in last month:

Eating Disorders Awareness Week

This year I signed on to be an Eating Disorders Awareness Week collaborator again (04:35 in video), as this is an issue close to my heart and personal experiences along with many I know.

Personally, I continue to learn about anti-diet nutrition, Health At Every Size, developing a neutral relationship to body and food through inspirational leaders in these spaces.

Here’s a recap of what I shared each day of EDAW 2024:

Monday 26.2 Filmed an ​EDAW Greeting Video​ and shared it on IG

Tuesday 27.2 Re-shared “Dancing Body Acceptance with Dietician Fumi Somehara​” an article and podcast episode 074, Part 1 of my mini-series on Dancing Body Acceptance from 2021 and still relevant today!

Wednesday 28.2 Re-shared “​Dance Recovering from Eating Disorder with Dietician Mona ‘Kai’ Iguchi​,” an article and podcast episode 075, Part 2 of my mini-series on Dancing Body Acceptance. Kai is a Dietician working in eating disorder recovery, an adult ballet dancer, and nonbinary (they/them pronouns) who has connected me with a wealth of wonderful resources when it comes to dancing nutrition, eating disorder treatment, equity and access. They were also a ballet student of mine at the University of Hawai’i!

Thursday 29.2 Recommended a bunch of ​Body-Positive and Anti-Diet Creators who inspire me​, including yoga teachers, coaches, dancers, therapists, nutritionists and other creators who foster diversity and inclusion like:

@​ddd_centre_for_recovery​

@​trustyoufirst​

@​tothepointenutrition​

@​langernutrition​

@​healthywithkelsey​

@​diannebondyyogaofficial​

@​happyshapesnaomi​

@​raevynn_yoga​

@​scotteeisfat​

@​chronicallycozylife​

@​fringeish​

@​juldelbi​

@​colleenmwerner

Friday 1.3

IG that my EDAW might be complete as of today, but body bias, stigma, toxic diet culture and disordered eating must be addressed year-round. I commit to body-positivity in my classes and programs and continuing to grow in my relationship to food, eating, diversity, and inclusion.

A few more excellent resources to check out are:

In the first couple months of the year, I completed a few of my “Twenty-four 24s”

Twenty-Four 24s in 2024: Keeping Track of Projects & Practices

As I wrote about in my Twenty-Four 24s in 2024 article, for each of the 24 chosen metrics I mean to make at least 24 contributions, and in this way consistently support my major goals and most valued priorities.

Some of the activities truly do fall about every two weeks, some being weekly or even daily (such as yoga practice, meditation, and reading), I will arrive at my goal at a different rate for each type of action, but each is something that I value and want to nurture.

Being daily rituals, I had completed twenty-four Daily Logs, Yoga, Meditation, Gratitude, & German Language practices by January 24th (12:10 in the video above) and I also surpassed that number of Movement Classes Taught in the first month of the year. With setting up for the year, quarter, and months ahead, I’ve also already made over 24 Bullet Journal Spreads. Social Media Posts (IG specifically) followed in week 6. Which of my 24s will I accomplish next?

Daily language learning on Duolingo reached a 1,600 streak February 2nd!

Alphabet Superset

The Alphabet Superset (03:30 in the video) challenge with Campbell Walker, aka Struthless, which began in 2023, continues into 2024. Everyone I know who is participating is behind schedule, but we are hanging in there!

I published 3 micro video choreos to TikTok and Instagram in February:

S-Z still to go as the year progresses!

Writing & Publishing Articles

Reflection and completion very much continuing to be major themes in my thinking and writing, in February I published two articles to the blog:

Filming & Sharing Videos

I published four videos to the A Blythe Coach YouTube Channel in February, meeting my monthly posting goal sharing dance and creative journaling content:

2023 Annual Bullet Journal Collections flip-through video on YouTube
2023 Monthly & Weekly Bullet Journal Collections flip-through video on YouTube
Swans on the Lake Ballet Warm-up video on YouTube
A Dancey Day in My Journals vlog-style video on YouTube

Connecting through Email & Social Media

I sent four weekly Email Newsletters in February (11:00), was active on Instagram and Facebook, and am on TikTok in order to post my Alphabet Superset micro choreo videos. In 2024, I plan to review overall performance metrics and strategy on a quarterly basis, so I won’t analyze every single number every month. Let’s keep creating, sharing, and interacting and we’ll see where we are again soon at the end of March/Quarter 1.

The best way to keep up-to-date on everything I’m coaching, teaching, creating and sharing about as well as my favorite work from other creators is to subscribe to my weekly email newsletter. Would love to be connected to you there, here, on social media, online or in-person!

We went all “Everything Everywhere All At Once” for Koeln Karneval in February (after the 2023 film)

Arts & Culture

Highlights in the areas of culture, art, and sport for February:

Karneval (10:00) Weiberfastnacht Thursday we hosted a brunch with friends before going out dancing and Rosenmontag (Monday) we watched the big parade on TV with my girlfriend’s Dad and a delicious German meal. Not all of the political floats were to my taste, but it was delightful and unique as always. Some events we were planning on were cancelled due to illness, but overall a very festive time that helps us get through an otherwise fairly dreary time of year.

We (Ela & I) completed our Tango Argentino beginner class at Tanzraum (Basic, Ocho, Cortado) and are continuing in March! I’m learning to lead a pair or ballroom dance for the first time and Ela is following and it is every bit as challenging, technical, and exciting as we hoped and we’re having fun so far.

Media Musings

What did I enjoy reading, hearing, and seeing in February?

Happy to chat further about what I’m reading and enjoying as we mosey into the year, and to hear about what you recommend I read, listen to, see or otherwise experience next.

Books & Reading

I finished two novels in February (05:40 in video), comfort reads which I had put on hold as eBooks through my library on Libby for “Fall” reading and became available:

  • Finished Happy Place by Emily Henry, a sweet and well-written romance
  • Also completed The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling, originally recommended on Soul+Wit, and not necessarily a top read of the year, but an entertaining paranormal romance that would be perfect during spooky season (spicy). One gem that suits my 2024 Word/Stand of the Year: “Rhys might have been The Fool, but maybe she was, too, because she realized that the image, a person walking merrily off a cliff, wasn’t necessarily about being reckless. It was about taking a leap and trusting something—someone—would catch you.” 
  • Started Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper: “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets The L Word…”     
Music & Listening

In February I listened to and continued editing the playlist I created in January, Quantum Leaping into 2024, a balletic new year’s soundtrack.

Actively working with playlists such as my in-progress

Alphabet Superset music, ABC Choreo Music Ideas, and playlists for each of the classes that I teach, with more seasonal fun in the works.

Songs that particularly stuck with me in February, some newer and some older (which I mention in the video at 06:05):

  • “Never Ending Song”
  • “In my head”
  • “Rush” the track for “R”
  • “Escapism”
  • “W.I.T.C.H.”
  • “Everything is Everything” just a classic
  • “Padam Padam” the track for “P”
  • “Quick” the track for “Q”
  • “Get Him Back” a recent student fave

Viewing

This section is about Films & Series seen (06:40), particularly outstanding YouTube videos watched and so forth.

  • Nimona” Film on Netflix is a modern animated adventure
  • “Queer Eye” Series (complete season)
  • “Mer-people” Series (complete)
  • “Naked and Afraid” Series (regularly)
  • “The Germinator” Series (occasionally)
  • “The Brothers Sun” (complete)
  • “The Bear” (regularly)
New windows (Ela re-installed the cat shelf), a major February home event

Look forward to sharing how in March I took part in International Women’s Day and invite you to special events for Dance Week, Coaching Week and more coming up soon! Enjoy your Karneval and Easter candy and see you again soon (11:00).

Questions for Reflection

  • What did your last month look like?
  • Which annual intentions or resolutions are you carrying forward?
  • What plans do you have for the coming month, quarter, season?
  • What creative inputs and media should I check out next?
  • How can I support you in going after your dreams?
The first Daffodil bravely displaying that Spring is on it’s way!

Resources for Further Exploration

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
Creator of A Blythe Coach @ablythecoach
helping multi-passionate creatives dance through their difficulties,
taking leaps of faith into fulfillment through coaching, yoga & dance education

DISCLAIMER: A Blythe Coach recommends that you consult your physician regarding the applicability of any recommendations and follow all safety instructions before beginning any exercise program. When participating in any exercise or exercise program, there is the possibility of physical injury. If you engage in this exercise or exercise program, you agree that you do so at your own risk, are voluntarily participating in these activities, assume all risk of injury to yourself.

Twenty-Four 24’s in 2024: Analog Project Planning & Action Tracking, Creative Bullet Journal Style

Having benefited from tracking “Twenty-three 23’s in 2023” actions in my Bullet Journal collections inspired by Jess, aka JashiiCorrin on YouTube, which I wrote about my in my 2023 Review blog, I decided to keep it going this year with twenty-four 24’s in 2024!

Arranged according to my 8 major focus areas–Read, Write, Create, Practice, Serve, Connect, Sustain, and Adventure–this way I get a somewhat holistic picture of my intentions and goals for the year. I focus on actions I can take, then see what results occur. Then I reflect, recommit or change direction, and carry on creating!

For each of the 24 chosen metrics I mean to make at least 24 contributions, consistently supporting my major goals and most valued priorities. Some of the activities truly do fall about every two weeks, some being weekly or even daily (such as yoga practice, meditation, and reading), I will arrive at my goal at a different rate for each type of action. Each is something that I value and want to nurture, but the precise frequency that supports me best depends on the action.

At this point a few of the 24 actions are already complete and I’ll be sharing updates in future monthly review blog articles!

24 Actions, 24+ Times

In December and January I set up the 24 collection spreads in my Annual Book (just a dot-grid Moleskine notebook as usual) and since then I’ve been continuously updating them as I take action. Some metrics I may not share in detail for personal or privacy reasons, and of course what measures are important to you will be different from my priorities, but I hope this sparks ideas for your own practice.

Here’s the spread with the beginning of my index for my Annual Book on the left and my “Twenty-four 24’s” list on the right, with a collection for each item to follow:

24+ in 2024 BuJo Spread in Annual Collections Book

Twenty-Four 24’s Flip-Through

The video below on YouTube is a flip-through of my Annual Collections Book for 2024 so far, including my Twenty-Four 24’s in 2024, creative challenges planned, notes and synchronicity along the way.

Just sharing my own process and preferences, what works for you might look very different! Brands and items I mention in the video are just what I currently use, based on personal experience and opinion. This video is not sponsored (none are so far) and I encourage you to use whatever supplies you have access to and enjoy.

If you enjoy this sort of content, check out my 2023 Annual Book and reflections, Word of the Year, and I’ll be back soon with more fun with ballet, mindful movement, creativity, and beyond.

My Twenty-Four 24’s

1. Read Books

Fiction Novels such as cozy mysteries and rom-coms, Nonfiction, Personal Growth, Scriptures, Poetry, anything goes! Enjoying reading every day and learning from new perspectives and diving into favorite topics are my main reading goals, so consistency and value is more important than volume.

Subscribers to my weekly email newsletter are privy to what I’m currently reading, top recommendations, and thoughts about current reads. Goodreads also tracks at least my eBook titles, most of which I borrow from the library using the Libby App.

For 2022 I shared intended study areas and favorite reads and content in a variety of media here on the blog and I’m also including selections in this year’s monthly review blogs. Here is January. Up next is a February Reflection and then March hot on my heels!

Books Read & TBR

2. Write Daily Logs

Having my pocket notebook on hand at all times allows me to keep ongoing notes throughout the day, based on the sort of rapid logging Ryder Carroll describes in the Bullet Journal Method.

Morning Pages, Weekly Spreads (24th class taught), Daily Logs

3. Write Morning Pages

Starting when I did Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, now I write my freewheeling freehand Pages most weekdays as part of my creative morning ritual.

4. Write & Publish Blog Articles

Like this one! I write about dance, mindful movement, creativity, lifelong learning, coaching, and joyful living. I started blogging in order to share my knowledge, provide references for students and clients, and find my voice.

I continue because it has done all of that and also connects me to a community of likeminded people!

Blog Articles Published and To-Be-Written

5. Write & Send Email Newsletters

The best way to keep in touch across the globe! I own my email list and website, so am less affected when social media goes down, and this also assures that you never miss out an anything I create or recommend.

Not yet a subscriber to my Email Newsletter? You can join here and let me know if you ever have questions.

Write Email Newsletters & Poems

6. Write Poems

My ongoing log (both analog and digital) of “acorns” or nuggets of poems and songs for possible eventual completion helps keep me in practice and creates a bank of material for future use. Short poems can also come through all at once, like the 365 Haiku I wrote in 2021.

7. Write & Send Letters

Tell loved ones how I feel, pen pal, keep in touch. An area for growth.

8. Create & Post Videos

This action I would like to complete weekly, but 24 is a good minimum to start with and supports me in consistently publishing videos to engage my students and audience. You can view and subscribe to the A Blythe Coach YouTube Channel here.

9. Create Choreography

Engaging in movement and artistic research is an ongoing feature of my practice. Like writing acorns or small segments of poems, the daily practice can be small, involving improvising, moving, and brainstorming. Then in addition to choreography for my classes and larger projects I am currently challenging myself to create weekly micro video choreography sketches for the #alphabetsuperset creative challenge. All of these could become of my working drafts – ideas and sequences that may find their way into (or ate least influence and inspire) a video, a class, workshop, collaboration, or other creation.

Choreography & Podcasting

10. Create BuJo (Bullet Journal) Spreads

Got a good start on this in December and January as I set up my Annual Book spreads including my Future Log, these Twenty-Four 24’s. Along with the Monthly and Weekly spreads I create in my Seasonal Books and other special collections, I will certainly meet this goal. Like journaling content? Some of my spreads can be found on Instagram, in videos (in relation to creativity), and in blog articles like this one that relate my personal process.

11. Create & Publish Podcasts

Not so much of a priority as it was in the past, but still would be nice to come back to as a complement to writing, dancing, and creating videos. It was pretty cool to publish my 100th podcast last year and I learn a lot through experimenting with that very free medium. The A Blythe Coach podcast started as a way to articulate and share ideas while I was going though my Yoga Teacher Training and integrating concepts from my western philosophy, dance, coaching, and pedagogical study.

12. Create Music – Practice Instrument(s)

Also a bit aspirational, but I do enjoy including singing, harmonica, percussion, and other musical creative practices that complement my choreography, dance, and movement education.

This is one way that I continually develop rhythm and musicality as I wrote about here.

Creating Music Playlists and Practicing an Instrument

13. Create Music Playlists

For dance classes, choreographic inspiration, yoga, setting the mood, and celebration.

As with books and reading, I sometimes share my favorite songs, pieces of music, and playlists including those I create myself in my videos, articles, and email newsletter.

14. Practice Yoga

Short or longer daily yoga practices have been one of my most consistent daily habits since 2019, so this year I completed my 24th practice of 2024 on January 24th. Here is an article where I wrote about Healthy Habit Building, and I also share about yoga on my YouTube Channel and in-person and online teaching.

Practicing Yoga, Meditation, Gratitude, German, Physical Therapy, Artist’s Dates

15. Meditate

As with Yoga, Meditation is a part of my daily ritual of healthy habits and so I reached 24 sessions on the 24th of January. There are so many benefits and I’ll absolutely continue to practice.

16. Practice Gratitude & Abundance

In my pocket notebook, digitally in the Gratitude App, as often as I can being present to the abundance and beauty I enjoy.

17. Practice German/Deutsch

Duolingo helps me continue to build my vocabulary and correct my grammar alongside practicing in teaching and everyday conversation. Being a daily activity, usually two short sessions mornings and evenings, I completed over 24 sessions by the end of January.

18. Physical Therapy

With a Thera Band, Balance Board, Foam Roller, Ball, Pull-Up Bar and more, I do a lot of cross-training in order to be able to continue actively dancing and teaching mindful movement.

19. Artist Dates & Creative Nourishment

Playfully fueling my creative fire, using my art & craft supplies, journaling, coffeeshops, bookstores, museums and galleries, performance and adventures, park time sketching, bird-watching…pretty much anything that inspires me can qualify as an Artist’s Date! Like that of Morning Pages, this concept comes from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way.

20. Serve – Teach Classes

Ongoing Mindful Movement classes in Ballet, Barre+, Barre a Terre, and Yoga as well as special workshops and master classes are all a part of my professional service as a teaching artist and educator.

Coaching & Teaching

21. Serve – Coaching Sessions

Coaching clients, offering sample sessions, and supporting people in taking leaps of faith to create the life of their dreams is also part of the professional service that I provide.

22. Connect – Host & Participate in Challenges

Participating in others’ creative challenges, such as Alphabet Superset, NaNoWriMo, Inktober, and others provide motivation, community, and structure in which my artist child can play. Hosting my own creative challenges in the areas of dance, yoga, and coaching, is a fun way to connect and support folks on those journeys.

Workshops, Challenges, & Social Media

23. Connect – Social Media Posts & Sharing

Sharing resources, behind-the-scenes experiences, connecting with my creative community on Instagram and Facebook several times a week as @ablythecoach

24. Sustain – Adulting & Financial Fun

Weekly check-ins with accounts, bills, budgeting, balancing books, profit, debt, insurance, investment and adulting also need to be regularly updated. Staying real and being on top of this area eases anxiety and helps me focus on what is important.

25. Bonus! Adventure & Celebration

Travel, Events, Dates & New Experiences are one of my favorite areas in which to set goals and broaden my horizons, connect with loved ones and meet new connections. Trips home to visit my family and on other getaways are in the works for 2024.

Adventure, Travel, To-See

What are Your 24?

If you’ve chosen intentions and objectives for the year, I’d love to hear about them and how it is going! You can start now, or at any time, just by choosing one action you’d like to complete 24 times in the coming period. Build a new habit and see the impact taking one small (repeatedly) can have!

Questions for Reflection

  • What goals and intentions do you have for 2024, the coming quarter and month?
  • What small actions or habits could you practice regularly in alignment with your intended outcomes?

Resources for Further Exploration

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
Creator of A Blythe Coach @ablythecoach
helping multi-passionate creatives dance through their difficulties,
taking leaps of faith into fulfillment through coaching, yoga & dance education

International Women’s Day Beautiful Adaptive Adult Ballet Barre+ with A Blythe Coach

In celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, I’m offering a complimentary online Beautiful Ballet Barre+ class!

We will kick off a new season of mindful movement with a delicious, gentle, adaptive beginner and beyond level online ballet barre plus one or two optionally-freestanding exercises for adults.

Accompanied by lovely music, joyful and suitable to all levels and genders. Dancers will be encouraged to express themselves through classical dance movements, taking their own appropriate variations of standard ballet steps. Leave feeling inspired, empowered, and artistically stimulated.

Sign Up for IWD Beautiful Ballet Barre+ Class

Friday, March 8th at 8:00am CET/German time (9:00pm Thursday night in Hawai’i) on Zoom.

International Women’s Day Ballet Barre+ with Blythe online March 8th 8:00 CET

Workshop Structure

This year’s IWD theme is “Inspire Inclusion” and I intend to embody that commitment in this workshop and all of my offerings. It is an area of ongoing growth potential.

Once signed up for the Ballet Barre+ class, you will receive an email with a link to the Zoom Meeting prior to the session Friday morning German time.

We will dress comfortably in ballet slippers or socks and meet for one hour online with camera on or off depending on personal preference, microphone off unless you’ve got a question, which you may also pose in the chat.

Have water ready and/or beverage of your choice, as well as a mat and any props you may see suitable for floor work (options, not required).

Set up your device so that you can see and hear the Zoom video stream and move freely on a smooth surface while supported by a sturdy “barre” or counter, windowsill, chair or wall.

Exercises may be performed in standing, seated, or reclining positions with endless variations depending on dancers’ abilities and preferences. Blythe will be dancing on one side of their kitchen, with a counter and chair for support and ready to demonstrate various options.

I would additionally like to offer a sample of my other mindful movement offerings during Women’s History Month, including Yummy Gentle Yoga and considering offering an online version of my Barre a Terre/mat training course for those who would like to practice other techniques or can’t make it to the IWD class day/time.

The best way to keep up-to-date on everything I’m coaching, teaching, creating and sharing is to subscribe to my weekly email newsletter.

I look forward to dancing with you, grand plie as pictured here not required!

Ballet Barre+ Workshop Host

The class will be led by Blythe Stephens, they/she, MFA in Dance, Certified Coaching Graduate, YTT200, Bliss Catalyst & Creator of A Blythe Coach: helping multi passionate creatives dance through their difficulties & take leaps of faith into fulfillment.

Hawai’i-raised and Cologne, Germany-based, Blythe collaborates with students and clients in-studio and online and would love to connect on social media @ablythecoach

Resources for Further Exploration

Questions for Reflection

  • How do you enjoy ballet, dance, or other mindful movement techniques in your daily practices?
  • Where is the growing edge of your artistic learning currently?
  • How are you celebrating International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month?

Let’s keep in touch, keep dancing, and let me know if I can be of service!

Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst
they/them or she/her
Creator of A Blythe Coach: dance through your difficulties
and take leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life

January was for Tango, Snow, Art, & Completion – 2024 Month 1 Review

The first week in January being school & studio holidays and furthermore part of the 12 Days of Christmas, we continued to take time off from regular teaching and work duties, recovering from the holidays and completing our celebration of the years past and freshly arrived.

Early 2024 in Cologne, the mood was very winter wonderland, with more snow than I’ve seen in the years I’ve lived in Germany so far! It was a study in contrasts, with cozy cuddles indoors, deep inner work, sparkling fun, and jumping right out of my comfort zone and into my vision for the year!

Did a lot of journaling, an important part of my process

January Mood & Timeline

My philosophy on January and the start to the new year is to go gently, allow myself to process, rest, celebrate, and plan at my own pace.

Only my online classes continued and it was lovely to meet in mindful movement through the holidays with my community there with few demands from elsewhere.

At home, we did some clearing, cleaning, and decluttering after the holidays, I finally conquered my paper pile tiger (a huge accomplishment!), Ela repaired my broken water bottle strap and some miscellaneous items to get the apartment and our personal affects shipshape. We also got out a good bit to socialize, adventure, and try new things to set the tone for the year.

Completion, reflection & planning were major themes of my month personally, including tallying data from the year past, tying up loose ends including applying to be reimbursed and receiving payment for medical bills through my insurance and other adulting responsibilities necessary to move forward unhindered.

Also made use of the time gestating new ideas, brainstorming, and thinking creatively about the future.

My completed January Bullet Journal spread, major objectives L, dates/art flyer R

Teaching & Coaching

Once schools and studios were back in session, I returned to Tanzschule Tanzraum Nippes for Ballet for all ages as well as covering for another teacher on vacation, and I went back to Henry Ford for Yoga plus new course: English through American films and music!

I taught a well-received trial Barre a Terre class at one2one Institut and will be having another to try another time slot in February. Online Mindful Movement classes in Balletlicious Ballet Barre+ and Yummy Gentle Yoga have been ongoing, and I will continue to share as further offerings become available and my schedule evolves this spring and beyond.

2023 Bullet Journal Monthly & Weekly Spreads Flip video on YouTube

Bullet Journaling & Planning

Bullet Journaling, reflection, planning, setups, and decorating are at this point a well-established part of my life and creative process, and even moreso as one year’s cycle transitions into the next.

In January I completed monthly & quarterly reflections in my 2023 books in order to finish digesting the year and set up my spreads for 2024, including Annual Collections and February setup (having set up January in December).

I was very much reflecting on 2023 even as I planned 2024, completing monthlies, quarterlies, and my reflection blog along with my 2023 Review BuJo Spread, 2024 Annual Book (setup flip to come) and February setups. Over the course of the month I started filling in 2024 Annual Book Collections, populated my Future Log for the year ahead, and kept January memories.

2023 Annual Collections Journal Flipthrough and 2024 Migration part 1 on YouTube

Creative Chosen Challenges

Hosting and participating in challenges and workshops was definitely a highlight of 2023 and will certainly be a part of 2024, too. Here are a few I participated in for January:

Jahresrückblog” – Annual Reflection Blog Challenge

In December I participated, in January I wrote, and on February 2nd I finally published for Judith Peters’ aka Sympatexter‘s blogging challenge called “Jahresrückblog” (in German). Though it still took time to process my 2023, the challenge was a brilliant support for writing and sharing annual retrospective.

She also inspired me through this experience to start writing monthly personal reflection blogs like this one in addition to the expert articles and special challenges and projects I’ve been creating.

Twenty-Four 24s in 2024: Keeping Track of Projects & Practices

Measuring action towards my most important goals and habits that support my projects or areas of focus is a key objective for notebooks and journaling.

This particular game or approach was inspired by Jess, aka JashiiCorrin on YouTube, with a Bullet Journal spread to declare and track that I first set up for 2023. I wrote about my “Twenty-three 23’s in 2023” in my 2023 Review blog.

This year the general goal number being 24, for each of the 24 chosen metrics I mean to make at least 24 contributions, and in this way consistently support my major goals and most valued priorities. Some of the activities truly do fall about every two weeks, some being weekly or even daily (such as yoga practice, meditation, and reading), I will arrive at my goal at a different rate for each type of action, but each is something that I value and want to nurture.

Having set up my spreads for the 24 areas in my Annual Collections Bullet Journal, I’ve been keeping track of my efforts for each along the way, but won’t necessarily share results in every area in each monthly review blog. Instead, I’m thinking of reviewing them in more detail on a quarterly or seasonal basis, since I do content and business planning and looking at numbers such as social media growth at that interval. Some metrics I may not share in detail for personal or privacy reasons, and of course what measures are important to you will be different from my priorities, but I hope this sparks ideas for your own practice.

In any case, additional photos and video to come as I work in my own 2024 collections, and I’m finding this structure a lot of fun and really supportive so far.

Alphabet Superset

Continuing the Alphabet Superset challenge with Campbell Walker, aka Struthless, in 2024 and I published my “N” micro video choreo &

“O” micro video choreos to TikTok and Instagram in January. P-Z still to go as the year progresses!

It’s an eclectic and inspiring community to be a part of and creating these short works and seeing what others are making certainly provides a stimulating creative motivator.

January BuJo spread: goals/art flyer L, further early-year objective R

Yoga Visibility Challenge

Susanna Barkataki is a yoga teacher who I follow on social media and always feel called out by, in a good way, so I signed up for her Yoga Visibility Challenge in January.

The practices provided, reflection, and action steps had me considering my voice, message, role, identity, and challenging but needed conversations. I made a first stab at responding to the prompts for each of the three days of the challenge here on Instagram, but I know there’s always further growth in articulating my voice and message.

Actually, I launched my Podcast, then the blog and YouTube Channel a few years ago specifically in order to practice exactly this sort of articulation, to share my knowledge and refine my message. By getting work out there, I have been figuring out how to best say what I’m here on this earth to.

Along the way, I’ve been more and more open about my own life experiences and perspective, and though this visibility feels very vulnerable, I know it is valuable to see others.

Fortunate in so many ways, the position I come from is one of privilege, as I’m a white American with multiple degrees and am read as female in alignment with my assignment at birth. Though I’ve long identified myself as queer sexually and my sense of my gender evolves as my consciousness expands, I’ve been lucky not to have been met with ridicule so far, blending in enough for acceptance, but know it’s possible.

Leading and intentionally lifting up others, I stand for diversity and inclusion and practice a pedagogy of emancipation, inquiry, anti-discrimination and bias of all kinds.

Hosting Workshops & Challenges

I hosted a few challenges in 2023, and I’ve got some exciting things to share with you this year as well!

Aside from trial classes in a new location, I didn’t teach any special workshops or host a challenge in January (again, focusing on rest and reflection). In February I’m collaborating again on Eating Disorders Awareness Week and will be sharing more 26.2.-3.4.2024 as well as taking part in International Women’s Day on March 8th, Dance Week, Coaching Week, the Spring Equinox, and more to be announced…

Writing & Publishing Articles

In January I published one article to the blog: Quantum Leaping in 2024 – Word / Intention of the Year. I continued working diligently behind-the-scenes on my A Beautiful Year of Slow Creation and Growth – 2023 Reflections Blog, which I published February second, and others as yet to be released.

Filming & Sharing Videos

I published one video to the A Blythe Coach YouTube Channel in January, though I was also preparing content for February and beyond:

2024 Word of the Year – Leap! Video on YouTube

Connecting through Email & Social Media

I sent four weekly Email Newsletters in January, was active on Instagram and Facebook, am using TikTok to post my Alphabet Superset videos. In 2024, I plan to review performance metrics and strategy on a quarterly basis. Each month and in my corresponding reflection blog articles, I just want to keep creating, sharing, and interacting.

One milestone that I did hit in January was 500 subscribers to my YouTube Channel – hooray!

The best way to keep up-to-date on everything I’m coaching, teaching, creating and sharing as well as my favorite work from other creators is to subscribe to my weekly email newsletter. Would love to be connected to you there, here, on social media, online or in-person!

Ballet de Lorraine did a wonderful job with Trisha Brown’s “Twelve Ton Rose”

Arts & Culture

Highlights in the areas of culture, art, and sport for January:

  • Saw a new sport live: Ice Hockey with the Cologne Haie or sharks and our neighbors, so much fun! Neither Ela nor I had ever attended a professional ice hockey game, and it was especially luxurious from the boxes.
  • Live dance performance: we had a getaway to Bonn to see “Twelve Ton Rose” by Trisha Brown performed by Ballet de Lorraine in Bonn, along with a Postmodern Art exhibit – beautifully done!
  • Began Tango Argentino beginner class at Tanzraum (Basic, Ocho…) where I’m learning to lead a pair or ballroom dance for the first time and Ela is following. It’s challenging, technical, exciting, and we’re having fun.
January Glows & Media BuJo spread: media L, highlights R

Media Musings

It sounds like fun to keep track of my favorite inputs on a monthly basis as well, such as what I’ve enjoyed reading, hearing, seeing, etc.

Happy to chat further about what I’m reading and enjoying as we mosey into the year, and to hear about what you recommend I read, listen to, see or otherwise experience next.

Books & Reading

I finished reading one novel in January, Emma Cline’s The Guest, which was such a hard-to-put-down thrilling trainwreck of a ride! Definitely for adults and probably not for everyone, so well-written and so unhinged.

Daily scripture (currently Bible, Quran), poetry (Rumi at the moment), and nonfiction readings (Better Living Through Birding, Yoga Through the Year…) continue to inspire, and I’ll be working my way slowly through several great works this year.

Music & Listening

One new playlist resulted from my music listening in January, Quantum Leaping into 2024, which is my balletic soundtrack to dance in the new year.

Continuing to actively work with playlists such as my in-progress

Alphabet Superset music, ABC Choreo Music Ideas, and of course tracks and playlists for each of the classes that I teach or more seasonal fun in the works.

Songs that particularly stuck with me in January included some which vibe with my theme of leaping and flying, such as

  • “I’ll Fly with You”
  • “Fly Like an Eagle”

Viewing

This section is about Films & Series Seen, particularly outstanding YouTube videos watched and so forth.

  • “Good Grief” film, yes I cried
  • “The Menu” film, twisted but good, maybe a bit much with “Saltburn” late last year…
  • “Blue Eyed Samurai” is animated but violent, beautiful if you’re into that sort of thing (Ela was watching the series and I joined her)
  • “Bear” series is stressful but well-played (live-action kitchen drama, another Ela pick)
  • “Queer Eye” new season gave me a boost I needed, and reminded me (along with their IG account) during the Yoga Visibility Challenge, what an inspiration Jonathan Van Ness is and how I appreciate the Fab Five!
  • “Love on the Spectrum” is a sweet feel-good documentary
  • Imbolc Yoga” from Moon Medicine on YouTube (35 minutes) was a particularly lovely practice
Enjoying a snowy stroll through the park with my love in January!

Questions for Reflection

  • How do you reflect on the year past, last month, or other periods of time?
  • What goals and intentions do you have for 2024?
  • What actions or habits must you practice regularly in alignment with your intended outcomes?
  • What creative inputs and media should I check out next?
  • How can I support you in going after your dreams this year?

Resources for Further Exploration

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
Creator of A Blythe Coach @ablythecoach
helping multi-passionate creatives dance through their difficulties,
taking leaps of faith into fulfillment through coaching, yoga & dance education

DISCLAIMER: A Blythe Coach recommends that you consult your physician regarding the applicability of any recommendations and follow all safety instructions before beginning any exercise program. When participating in any exercise or exercise program, there is the possibility of physical injury. If you engage in this exercise or exercise program, you agree that you do so at your own risk, are voluntarily participating in these activities, assume all risk of injury to yourself.

A Beautiful Year of Slow Creation & Growth – 2023 Reflections

2023

Lovely as can be,

a time to create

and witness beauty

That’s the poem I shared when I declared my Word of the Year and practices to make it so.

Now how did it go?

View of Cochem in the Mosel wine region of Germany

In December I participated in Judith Peters’ aka Sympatexter’s blogging challenge called “Jahresrückblog,” in support of writing and sharing annual retrospective and reflection blog article. Love a bit of structured reflection and sharing insights that may be interesting or helpful to others!

As I’ve noted in previous years, it takes me a while to complete such a reflection process, so I didn’t click “publish” on the deadline of the challenge, but was well-served by the social media prompts, live and recorded support and community that the challenge provided.

Here I am now to share my thoughts on 2023, at least as I experienced it, and inspired to share more regular personal reflections of this nature in the form of monthly-ish blogs, in order to continue to connect with folks with similar values and interests for whom my work and being in the world resonates.

Did a lot of journaling, an important part of my process

Here I’m reviewing my goals and intentions, highlights and lowlights, joys, lessons, and challenges of 2023, in order to move powerfully into 2024.

Review of My 2023 Goals

What became of my declarations for last year?

Following Amanda McKinney’s annual planning process, I had set larger annual goals in the areas of Life, Growth (Business), and Revenue. Spoiler alert, I didn’t reach any of them!

But! I still made progress in each area, just saw slower results than I had hoped for. These measurable differences and improvements were the gift of gathering all this data, as well as perspective on how regular actions contribute to results over time. Now I also have increased knowledge and experience to set and achieve better goals in the future.

You could say it was a challenging year for me personally, and I know I’m not alone in that, but I am here to celebrate what wins there were and what I’ve learned and enjoyed along the way.

A view of home: Kailua Bay from the Kona Inn with red hibiscus in the foreground

2023 Outcomes

  • Life: My lived experience, interactions and influence on others was my highest priority. Creating and witnessing my Word of the Year, Beauty, was my intention in this area, and I DID indeed create and witness beauty plentifully! Made strides connecting, sharing love, adventuring and celebrating, traveling, and practicing rituals and habits. When things were difficult or I felt low, I sought support and kept in mind the intrinsic beauty of life and the small moments even in the midst of struggle, pain, or loss. I deeply appreciated, savored, and celebrated everything that is beautiful and that I’m grateful for in life, including my love, family, friends, and community, nature and art! I was blessed with rich cultural experiences, travel, and adventure.
  • Growth: I didn’t reach my 1,000 subscriber goal for YouTube, but did end 2023 with 495 subs, and in January of 2024 I reached the 500 sub milestone! This is nothing close to viral or even profitable, but I find sharing and connecting with people through the channel as well as my blog and social media very beneficial in terms of refining my message and connecting with likeminded folks. As YouTube pointed out, that’s enough people to fill a jumbo jet 🙂 This was not enough, yet, to translate into large gains in clients or students, but I have seen growth in enrollment as well. I increased the number and type of my offerings and still wrote and created quite a bit, so feeling proud of my efforts overall. Will continue with perseverance and strategy.
  • Revenue: I’m not sharing financial details here in this article, but like my other stated goals, I saw distinct growth, albeit not yet at the scale I desired. New opportunities continue to present themselves and I am so grateful to be able to do work I’m passionate about! Continuing to work to give myself grace with transitioning to a new country, language and life through global pandemic.

Annual Glows + Grows

As with my reflections on other periods of time, in Daily Logs, Weekly, Monthly, and Quarterly Reflections, I take note of what went well, what was challenging, surprises and challenges, highlights and lowlights.

I vent it all, then see what trends and themes I can suss out.

Glows: Highlights & Accomplishments

As we saw, I did not hit all of the targets I set though process was made. There were some standout moments related to my intentions, as well as delights and enriching experiences that arrived over the course of the year.

I’m especially pleased and proud of:

  • Maintaining daily Yoga, Meditation, Reading, Writing, Gratitude + Abundance, German practices, weekly Physical Therapy, Improvisation, Artist’s Dates, monthly reflection
  • 5th Anniversary and happy with Ela
  • Trip Home to Kailua-Kona in May
  • Getaways to Bochum in at the start of the year, to the Mosel wine region with friends in September, to Amsterdam with my cousins in June
  • Other cousins visited Cologne in October and of my best friends visited Cologne in December
  • Classes and offerings growing, Barre a Terre, teaching and coaching in new locations and demographics, further possibilities unfolding
  • “Alice im Wunderland Ballett” was a success with Tanzschule Tanzraum at the Urania Theatre in Cologne, so proud of all the students!
  • Hosted new challenges and workshops: “International Women’s Day Yoga,” “Get Down Daily,” “Ignite the Spark of Creativity,” “Transitions & Translations,”
  • Emceed for the first time for West Hawai’i Dance Theatre’s “Rikki Tikki Tavi Ballet”
  • Participated in challenges new and old: Camp NaNoWriMo/Memoir, Self-Care September, A Year of Planning, Alphabet Superset creative challenge still in progress, learning to use TikTok
  • Adulting: Started collecting profit using the PROFIT FIRST system, Granted a 3-year work visa in Germany, Applied for the Kunstler Sozialkasse and Techniker Krankenkasse, Solved credit card issue, switched Spotify to YouTube for music, bought a Deutschland Ticket subscription for unfettered travel
  • Arts & Culture – was treated to live performances including “Nutcracker,” “Rikki Tikki Tavi,” and “Navy Blue”
  • Sports – started practicing Tai Chi and Qi Gong, watching Sumo Championships, Women’s World Cup finals, Eddie Aikau surf competition
  • Ela returned to Karate after working hard to recover from knee injury and surgery
  • Bathroom repair after flooding late 2022 finally complete
  • Received a copy of a history of one side of my family from a distant cousin: The Kernahan Clan, still need to read it and follow-up
  • Had a blast on my Artist’s Dates, bought stationery, played in my journals and got creative, especially enjoyed traveling with my new Artist’s Roll for my colored pencils and a few other items
Artist’s Roll in the wild on the slopes of Mauna Loa

Grows: Lowlights, Loss & Lessons

This was a bit of a theme of the year for me, unforeseen challenges, grieving, letting go, hanging in there, starting again. It was not the easiest year for me emotionally, and I know I’m not alone in this. It was overall a beautiful, wonderful year and I don’t want to complain, but also want to be honest and authentic about my experience and not ignore the difficult parts.

  • Wars in Ukraine and Gaza are shaking our world, sending refugees and trauma. Save the children, call for a ceasefire, peace on earth.
  • My Great Aunt Kathie, with whom I was not especially close but who was dearly beloved in my family and was my Tutu’s last living sibling, passed away this year
  • A studio where I teach suddenly lost a dear custodian, Guiseppe, with whom I often chatted and whose family is left bereft
  • 3 beloved family dogs passed
  • One of my aunts was diagnosed with cancer and has begun treatment
  • I had my own health scare and had to be treated for Hemorrhoids, a much more common condition than I realized
  • Our bathroom flooding repairs took all year
  • Challenges and goals that I did not complete as intended: Inktober52 (3/52 drawings), Nikolais/Louis reading and explorations, coaching client acquisition, business card distribution, sample sessions, content creation and networking at the level I intended (yet)
  • Unsuccessful university teaching position application (I believe I am qualified and do love teaching in higher education, but I’m also happy to work outside of the system)
  • Did not publish Somatics and Ballet or other academic articles to blog (yet)
  • Did not participate in a dance research conference but would like to in the future
  • Zoom video recording problem which created difficulties for my video workflow and beyond, technical issues aplenty
  • Very slow/delayed on monthly, quarterly reflection, still haven’t broken down expenses categories for budgeting, paying taxes and recordkeeping very stressful, need a better system for this
  • Did not take steps towards getting my German Drivers License
2023 Annual Collections Journal Flipthrough and 2024 Migration part 1 on YouTube

Intentional Habits & Practices

In service to my overarching long-term goals, I had announced twenty-three focus areas or more regular habits/practices. This was playfully inspired by JashiiCorrin on YouTube, with a Bullet Journal spread to declare and track. For each of the 23 chosen actions, I meant to make at least 23 contributions, and in this way consistently support of my major goals and most valued priorities.

My Twenty-Three 23’s in 2023 Bullet Journal Spread at the beginning of the year

23 Twenty-Threes in 2023

I met quite a few of my 23 targets, and missed a bunch as well…

Here are the practices I prioritized:
  • Practice Yoga – as this is meant to be a daily ritual, I practiced yoga many more than 23 times, rather 318 sessions and it continues to be there exactly when and how I need it
  • Meditate – 299 sessions
  • Gratitude & Abundance – 365 days
  • Morning Pages – 189 entries
  • Classes Taught – 417 including online, in-studio, and at a new school location!
  • Bullet Journal Spreads – at least 104, including annual collections, monthly and weekly spreads, and quarterly reflections, plus special events and trips
  • Books Read – I actually enjoyed reading 35 books and I’m very happy with this. My goal for reading is not maximum consumption, but maximum appreciation of the benefits of reading books and a balance of pleasure and growth. Diversity in topics and genres as well as turning to reading material that is just for the fun of it. When it comes to nonfiction, I tend to read slowly, take a lot of notes, and try to integrate what I learn into my life as I go. Currently I plan to record and share what were my favorite books and other media of 2023, to come…
  • Send Email Newsletters – 45, a top priority is to stay in touch with my inner circle of students, clients, and likeminded creatives
  • Write Articles – 14, less than desired, partly also do to technical snafus with video publishing process, also just allowed myself to get derailed by life stuff
  • Videos Published – 17, much lower than I expected due to unforseen technical difficulties and other circumstances
  • Dance Improvisation – several times per week, 52+
  • Choreography – 19, very much supported by participating in Alphabet Superset
  • Artist’s Dates – weekly, about 52
  • Physical Therapy – about twice weekly, 52+
Non-Priorities / Did not meet objective
  • Letters Sent – 13 (I love pen-palling but struggle to get out cards and letters as I wish to do)
  • Podcasts Published – 4, though I did reach episode 100! Decided to let this take a back burner to other content types this year as I took on new roles in other areas
  • Drawings – 3, also decided to let Inktober52 go
  • Poems – 11, kept my practice going
  • Music Practice – stopped tracking
  • Micro Workout – stopped tracking
  • (Not tracking Student or Client numbers or Income here)
My cousin’s child, cousin, and Ela in the park during their visit

Key 2023 Themes for Me

Theme 1: Family

I most cherish special times with family this year, mine and Ela’s. So grateful to be able to travel to be with my parents, and that a couple of my cousins could come to Europe, meeting us in the Netherlands or at home in Cologne. Got to spend quality time with a couple of my cousins’ delightful growing children and I treasure the memories.

But possibly our family’s biggest news of the year is the birth of Ela’s sister’s child, baby Adem in the spring. He is absolutely the best and we’re eating him up. Not sharing photos of him online, so you will have to imagine his wide, curious eyes, huge cheeks, and dear smile!

Theme 2: Creative Chosen Challenges

Hosting and participating in challenges and workshops was definitely a highlight of 2023. I hosted a few challenges, namely Get Down Daily, Ignite the Spark of Creativity, and two new workshops, International Women’s Day Yoga and the Transitions and Translations choreography workshop at my home studio, West Hawai’i Dance Academy!

I gladly participated in A Year of Planning, Blog Your Purpose (also with Judith Peters!), Self-Care September, and the ongoing Alphabet Superset challenge with Campbell Walker, aka Struthless.

Stepping into creating micro video choreographies on TikTok for the Alphabet Superset, completed first half in 2023, to be continued in 2024…

Theme 3: Experiencing Arts & Culture

I was blessed with a wealth of special concerts, performances, galleries and museums, travel adventures, new sports and more! Planning to pass along recommendations for my favorite reads, viewing, and events in an upcoming blog.

My 3 Favorite Blog Articles of the Year

Of my writings this year, I’d like to recommend a few that I think are particularly valuable in retrospect:

  • At this time of year and anytime, my Annual Refresh, Reflection, Clearing and Planning Process Blog is a great way to get ideas to add to or refine to your own refreshing reflections and powerful planning
  • As I shared, creative challenges were a big highlight of my year, if you’re wanting to see how they could support your goals as well, my Chosen Challenges Blog is here
  • Storytelling, whether in-person, on video, or written was everywhere in 2023 and I was working to become a better nonfiction writer (it’s ongoing), through Camp Memoir and readings, which I reflected on in Writing True Stories to Reflect & Connect

My Goals for 2024

My big-picture, long-term goals haven’t changed this year, but I will be continuing to pursue them in patient, persistent, and strategic ways. I’ve also chosen 24 24’s for 2024 and will be sharing these intended actions and how I’m tracking and supporting them in the future.

Having already declared a Word of the Year in this article, next up will be jumping into action and creating systems to support the journey of the coming year. Glad to be on this journey together!

A little birdy told me we are going to fly in 2024!

Questions for Reflection

  • How do you reflect on the year past?
  • What goals and intentions do you have for 2024?
  • How can I support you in going after your dreams this year?

Resources for Further Exploration

I’ve got oodles more free resources for you here on the blog, on the A Blythe Coach YouTube Channel, on social media and live! The best way to keep up-to-date on everything I’m coaching, teaching, creating and sharing as well as my favorite work from other creators is to subscribe to my weekly email newsletter. Would love to be connected to you there, here, on social media, online or in-person!

Blog article-wise, here are some others you might find interesting:

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
Creator of A Blythe Coach @ablythecoach
helping multi-passionate creatives dance through their difficulties,
taking leaps of faith into fulfillment through coaching, yoga & dance education

DISCLAIMER: A Blythe Coach recommends that you consult your physician regarding the applicability of any recommendations and follow all safety instructions before beginning any exercise program. When participating in any exercise or exercise program, there is the possibility of physical injury. If you engage in this exercise or exercise program, you agree that you do so at your own risk, are voluntarily participating in these activities, assume all risk of injury to yourself.

Quantum Leaping in 2024 – Word / Intention of the Year

Twenty twenty-four

quantum leaps in store

into creativity

love and joy galore

Blythe’s word / stand / intention Bullet Journal Spread for 2024: Leap!

Courage to Jump (and Fall) Creates Possibility to Fly

2024 is a leap year and both the dynamic term “leap year” and idea of a whole additional juicy day in the year during which to experience and accomplish things inspired me to choose LEAP as my year’s stand or intention.

As a dancer, it’s an apt analogy, though I no longer physically leap quite like I once did. Courageously following my heart regardless of fear has become my personal practice. Choosing a guiding word or phrase each year has also been a part of my intention-setting process since 2015, thanks to my friend Liz, and I also shared about my 2023 Word and intentions on Instagram, YouTube, and here on the blog.

As 2023 came to an end, I circled in and landed on Leap as my word for the coming year. Through contemplation and free-association, all sorts of connections arose. I thought of the flying creatures I love such as birds and butterflies, the nurturance and training in the nest and transformation in the chrysalis that then make taking to the sky possible, after a first courageous step into the unknown.

Skies and celestial imagery, stars and our sun, the moon and planets, wind and weather patterns all came to mind. Mind, intuition and spirit got to work forging connections and planting seeds for future creation. I considered how this word could connect to and fuel my projects, goals, short- and long-term vision. What leaps do I want to take this year? How do I want to help others to take their own quantum leaps?

Short video on YouTube sharing my Word & Poem for 2024

Alignment with Purpose, Vision, Mission, Values

Being able to take such leaps has to do with Freedom, one of my core values which is deeply connected to my Purpose of Joy, Essence of Buoyant (!), Creative, Curious, Love, & Leader, my Mission to inspire, equip, and liberate, Vision to support my community to live extraordinary lives through coaching, dance and mindful movement education… even my Artist’s Prayer includes “loving my neighbors, helping them to fly as birds!”

None of us is free until we are all free, and my work includes an intersectional commitment to emancipation for all.

For me personally to take leaps of faith and freedom, I will keep exercising and trusting my voice, expressing my message, and engaging in supports and challenges that help me do so. Empowering and uplifting myself and others starts within and then moves out into the world.

My role as a Bliss Catalyst and Quantum Leap Launcher is to assist others in navigating their own courageous moves, whether they be artistic, athletic, professional, or personal.

Staying Present to Our Intentions

Staying grounded in this intention informs my attitude and choices throughout the year and helps me get oriented again when I get lost in the circumstances of everyday life, from mundane details to sudden crises or worldwide drama.

Writing out my word and poem in my Bullet Journal and collaging imagery means I have positive associations with it, will interact with it daily and be reminded or where I’m coming from in 2024. This way it can influence my decisions and actions and how I influence others.

This specific approach appeals to and motivates me, but this will take a different shape for each individual person and process.

Journal spread with collected quotes, poems, experiences of synchronicity so far

Finding Luck and Synchronicity

Choosing a theme, intention, or word for the year also provides a connecting thread for all of my experiences, influences, and resources. My intuition and awareness are on alert for helpful inputs and inspirations. In my daily reading and media consumption, synchronicity has already started popping up all over in the books, poems, articles, conversations, artworks, and experiences in nature I encounter. A few of these are captured in the photo above, and I’ll keep collecting them in my Bullet Journal, music and video playlists, and second brain as the year continues.

May your year also be blessed with support for taking leaps of faith into your wildest dreams!

Questions for Reflection

  • What is your Word(s) of the Year?
  • Which small action(s) will you take today to embody it?
  • How will you return to your intention when life inevitably carries you away?

Resources for Further Exploration

Autumn Equinox Magic – Rituals to Romance the Transition from Summer to Fall

Acknowledging the subtle and dramatic changes from season-to-season is one of the ways I like to celebrate life. Seasonal rituals help me celebrate each transition, acknowledge how I’ve learned and grown and what it’s time to let go. Today is the day before the autumn equinox if you’re here in real time, a great time to start your ritual, or you can take inspiration anytime.

September in Cologne sees the earliest leaves changing from green to yellow, the dry crunch underfoot, nuts and berries aplenty even in the heart of the city. Outside my door hazelnuts are falling onto the cobblestones, cars rolling over pop them open and the pigeons gorge themselves.

Colorful leaves are just coming on the scene in Cologne

How we each best enjoy the distinct times of year is personal. I’m sharing some rituals I find especially meaningful and enjoyable around the time of the Fall or Autumnal Equinox. This designates the point in the year (once in fall, once in spring) where day and night are of equal length, in this case the official transition into the cooler part of the year in the northern hemisphere. For academics and others, fall can feel like another new year, a time of launching projects and ideas, to return to our purpose refreshed after summer frolicking.

I invite you to craft your own ideal celebration and let me know how you get festive whether simple or elaborate, solo or with others.

Summer-to-Autumn Menu

Here I’ll provide just a few examples of practices that you might like to incorporate into your own seasonal ritual or everyday life.

I also like to create a fall/seasonal Bucket List, Reading list, collection of Film, Show. Music, Media favorites and the like, but will leave such goodies for a future article.

Some places to look depending on your time or particular Equinox interests:

  • Nature – go for a walk or be outdoors
  • Yoga & Mindful Movement – choose a more strenuous or relaxing practice depending on what you need and feels good
  • Breath & Mantra – great ways to ground and be present
  • Poetry & Inspiring Reading – read or listen to favorite seasonal poems or what suits the mood
  • Music – play or sing a tune, put on a track or playlist to set the tone
  • Meditation & Quiet – take some time to go inward
  • Reflection & Journaling – gratitude, venting, affirmations, visioning, planning, memory keeping, mood boards…
  • Consider supportive Therapy, Coaching, and/or courses for a fresh new season
  • Altar – crystals, amulets, art, ancestors, guides, objects, incense, oils, candles, aromatherapy (sometimes I share images of my altar, journals, inspiration, studios and creative spaces on Instagram)
  • Ephemera & Decor – collage, journaling, household decor, party accents, correspondence, creativity
  • Cleaning, Decluttering & Organizing – take small steps toward a cozy and comfortable living space
  • Cooking, Baking, Food & Eating – for me, it’s eating seasonal ingredients and dishes, cooking comfort foods, baking easy muffins, cookies, and treats
  • Creativity – setting up seasonal projects, refocusing for the next period, planning in fun and play for my Artist Child, outlets for my mature artistic voice, and enchanting offerings for my students and clients
  • Any other rituals of your choosing, or just take a nap and rest up for a new season!

Equinox / Fall Yoga Practice Ideas

As the hours of daylight grow fewer, it is a great time to shift our yoga practice to more restful, restorative, and yin practices, releasing some of summer’s high energy and intensity and nurturing the body and soul and aiming for balance.

Fall Forest Savasana is a slow and low floor practice that brings outdoors in
Be Grounded Like Earth as a nice standalone or part of the Magic Within You
Autumn Tree Pose Yoga embodies gentle stability and balance

Any of the practices from my Yoga ReTREAT 5-day virtual retreat would also be lovely part of a summer-to-autumn equinox ritual or regular morning routine. My whole library of recorded yoga practices is available on the Yogalicious playlist on YouTube.

Fall Deep Breathing

You may with to do a breath practice such as my Autumn Release Lion Breath Yoga:

Autumn Release Lion’s Breath Pranayama is a great way to destress and let go

Check out my Beautiful Breathing Yoga Pranayama playlist with a growing collection of breathwork practices to relax, balance, and energize.

Autumn Equinox Meditations

Get present to a new season with a delicious mediation:

Autumn Equinox Meditation involves a variety of senses to get you in the spirit
Get Grounded Stabilizing Meditation

Or do a relaxing Yoga Nidra or Non-Sleep Deep Rest practice like this one:

Fall Poetry Faves

Oh I love to swoon to the poetry of autumn as well as to inspirational readings of a spiritual, nonfiction, or fiction variety. Here are a few Fall Poetry Faves and I’m always collecting new poems and songs that move me.

A few Fall Poetry Faves from 2020, still classics

Fanciful Fall Dancing

Dancing in nature, around a fire, or anywhere is also a great way to let go of stagnant energy and the past, be present, and move into the future.

Autumn Leaves Creative Port de Bras is a playful way to embody the change of seasons
My Falling Leaves Adage is a slow ballet choreography swirling with romance

For more dancing fun, my Ballet Barre, Ballet Centre, Wonderful Dance Warmup, and Ballet Conditioning Playlists on YouTube have many exercises and explorations to keep you moving joyfully in all seasons.

Fall Writing & Creativity

You can write to remember, refer to, and keep, to let go of, burn, or destroy, or even to share! Creative writing can serve many purposes in your Equinox ritual or any transition of life. Some of my favorite ways to use writing in my practice are in my Reflective practice through journaling blog article.

This is also a great time of year to focus on gratitude and blessings, and I like to keep gratitude and abundance logs in digital and analog forms.

If you really want to go for it with your writing this season,

October is Preptober or an opportunity to prepare for a writing challenge such as November’s National Novel Writing Month, which I have previously written about in my Let’s Write and Writing True Stories to Reflect and Connect blog articles. Or take on a different type of creative Challenge of your choosing, such as those I share in my Charming Chosen Challenges and Ignite the Spark of Creativity articles. My current creative challenge is participating in the the Alphabet Superset, for which just published my video for “C” and having a blast with it!

Questions for Reflection

  • How do you mark the change of seasons?
  • Which celebrations are important to you? How do you make them festive?
  • What are you grateful for?
  • How do you show your acknowledgement and thanks?
  • What do you need to let go of to embrace the next chapter in your life?
  • In what ways will your rest and practice self-care in the darker months?

Resources for Exploration

Thank you for reading, I am glad you are here and I look forward to hearing about your own favorite fall rituals and traditions!

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
Creator of A Blythe Coach @ablythecoach
helping multi-passionate creatives dance through their difficulties,
taking leaps of faith into fulfillment through coaching, yoga & dance education

DISCLAIMER: A Blythe Coach recommends that you consult your physician regarding the applicability of any recommendations and follow all safety instructions before beginning any exercise program. When participating in any exercise or exercise program, there is the possibility of physical injury. If you engage in this exercise or exercise program, you agree that you do so at your own risk, are voluntarily participating in these activities, assume all risk of injury to yourself.

Creative Next Steps: Alphabet Superset Challenge – My Entrée to TikTok Dance (or whatever media you so choose)

The time is ripe for a new creative challenge, and one crossed my path just recently that I’m excited to jump into, Struthless’ Alphabet Superset” Challenge!

Encompassing 26 weeks of letter inspiration plus breaks, and lots of structures of support for all artists and creators regardless of medium or experience level, it’s shaping up to be an inspirational and rampantly productive time.

All are welcome to the burgeoning supportive community and participation is free.

Here is Struthless’ original invitation video to introduce the project:

Alphabet Superset Challenge invitation video here

How the Program Works

In the words of Struthless, “You probably want to know what you’re getting yourself into! For a summary of the project, check out this Overview.

For a breakdown of what you’ll be doing, have a read of How it Works.

This will let you know what to do next.”

A-Week begins on Monday the 4th of September, and making art together in real time is going to be powerful, but you can also jump in anytime.

Create whatever sort of alphabet challenge you like and Struthless will provide helpful resources to narrow your focus and generate juicy parameters for prolific creativity.

This challenge is a fairly big commitment, so if it is for you I look forward to seeing what you get up to, but if you’d prefer a shorter-term but still concentrated creative challenge, there are a few ideas below under Resources for further Exploration.

I also announced my intention to do the Superset in this video on Instagram.

My Personal Challenge

The variety of projects I’ve seen folks taking on so far is astounding! That said, it’s good for each project to have a tight focus to create lots of ideas and ultimately a cohesive body of work. A range of examples is also provided in the worksheets provided when you join the challenge.

Here’s what the details are shaping up to look like for me, with the assistance of the worksheets in the program and my current curiosity:

  • 10-20 Second Weekly Small Space Video Micro-Choreographies
  • Shared to TikTok (@blythelydancing), IG and/or Facebook, YouTube (all @ablythecoach)

Sharing to social media for the purposes of the Alphabet Superset challenge, I have no expectations or intention of trying to go “viral.” This goal is not concerned with metrics of social media performance or external “success”, but in order to have a playful form of accountability and build community with other creators within the project.

It’s going to be me, movement, my iPhone, music, & TikTok/IG in my personal project

Purpose of Participation

Although dance is my specialty, this format is outside of my comfort zone, so I wanted to use the motivation and shared risk-taking joie de vivre to propel me to continue to be a learner in the form, along with my students. Full disclosure: I’ve avoided participating in TikTok until now, so this will be my first contribution to the platform!

I intend to explore what’s possible with the vertical/portrait smart phone video orientation, as well as size-, location-, and viewpoint-specific choreography, and popular music. Also here to encourage others to dance, move, and create in their own way!

The whole challenge will help keep my knowledge of today’s dances and dance students up-to-date, while also refining my own artistic voice.

Created a collection in my Bullet Journal to plot, plan, brainstorm, celebrate

Structures for Success

Here’s where participating in a structured creative challenge is full of juicy potential! Struthless has provided some really fun and helpful worksheets for those who join the free challenge, so I definitely recommend signing up and using those if it piques your interest.

In addition, I am also using:

  • A Bullet Journal and Dry-Erase Board, a Morning Pages Notebook, stationery supplies
  • A variety of settings to inspire movement
  • Real-Life Community
  • Online Community (IG, TT, Email Newsletter subscribers)

Questions for Reflection

  • In what media do you create or wish to?
  • Will you join me in giving the Alphabet Superset or another creative challenge a go?
  • What structures of support do you need to help you succeed at the challenge?

Resources for further Exploration

Creative Challenges are a great way to experience prolific artistic output
What I learned from writing a daily Haiku poem in 2021
My experience writing memoir stories for Camp NaNoWriMo 2023
Blog announcement of my participation in Camp NaNoWriMo July 2023
Get Down Daily Dance Challenge is an online creativity challenge

Feel free to reach out to me via email or on Instagram​ @ablythecoac​​h​, I’d love to hear what you’re creating and I’m grateful we’re connected.

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: ablythecoach.com @ablythecoach

helping multi-passionate creatives

dance through their difficulties

Writing True Stories to Reflect and Connect – Camp NaNoWriMo Recap

“When we really listen to people talk about themselves, we get to learn about ourselves and it’s beautiful and it’s interesting and it wouldn’t happen in any other way.”

The Daily Stoic Podcast:

Rick Rubin on The Creative Act, Overcoming Ego, and Enjoying the Process” (about 1 hour 7 minutes in)

My Camp Memoir Journey

Hello again! In my last blog article, “Let’s Write! Camp NaNoWriMo & Creative Structure,” I declared my participation in the writing challenge Camp NaNoWriMo this July, focusing on developing real-life personal memoir-type stories. In the past I’ve done tons of academic writing, dabbled in fiction and poetry, and I’ve been working through my blog and email newsletter to refine my voice further, but had yet to dig in and develop any of my true stories that I’ve journaled about over the years.

Yes, it was emotional to take the memoir route, looking at my own personal history, diving into true experiences of growth and personal transformation, large and small. I wanted to use the challenge as an opportunity to both study and practice storytelling techniques, so I set a few goals for the focused month, developing habits I can carry forward to enrich my creative practice and life.

Here I’m sharing my results, what I learned from participating in Camp NaNoWriMo this year, and benefits you too might glean from such a personal writing practice.

Goals and Results

My goals and outcomes for Camp NaNo / Memoir July 2023 were:

  • Finish Reading Storyworthy book by Matthew Dicks (I did, they also have a great YouTube Channel, and I found a lot of other great memoir resources online as well!)
  • Daily Story Ideas (generated 38/31)
  • Weekly Story rough drafts (wrote 5/4)
  • Continue to practice the new writing strategies I learned
  • Create a second draft/polish one story (in-progress, see below)
  • Blog about it

Tracking Writing Progress

Creating spreads in my Bullet Journal makes keeping track of my efforts more fun, so I set up a handy place to measure my progress towards my goals:

The Bullet Journal spread I created to set goals, track progress, motivate, acknowledge and celebrate

Writing Stories Improves Your Life

In the “Personal Writing as a Method for Change, featuring Michelle Tea podcast on shewrites.com, writer Michelle Tea: “The challenge is to remember exactly what happened, get to some sort of truth or some sort of heart of the situation and really play with language to basically manipulate my reader. So that’s what I’m doing when I’m writing memoir.” (about 7:30) Both Tea and Dicks express the importance of getting at the gems of truth, value, and learning from our personal experiences in processing them to share. It can take time to heal from some

In the book I chose to guide my storytelling growth, Storyworthy, author Matthew Dicks talks about how writing, such as his daily exercise called “Homework for Life,” and his “Crash and Burn” freewriting session that resembles Morning Pages, provides an opportunity for reflection, growth in understanding, and can even stretch our and our audience’s perception of time.

Here’s how you do Homework for Life: “Five minutes a day is all I’m asking. At the end of every day, take a moment and sit down. Reflect upon your day. Find your most storyworthy moment, even if it doesn’t feel very storyworthy. Write it down. Not the whole story, but a few sentences at most. As you start to see importance and meaning in each day, you suddenly understand your importance to this world.” (Storyworthy p.58)

Yes, each of our stories matter!

Writing Stories Stretches Time   

Dicks claims, and I have experienced to be true, at least at moments: “As you begin to take stock of your days, find those moments — see them and record them — time will begin to slow down for you. The pace of your life will relax.” (Storyworthy p.53-4) Just as sketching can deepen how we see the world, what we witness and perceive, so can crafting stories from our lives.

Storytelling Time Travels Your Audience

Storytelling can create a sense of time travel for listeners/readers, as Dicks explains: “If I am doing my job well and telling an excellent story, you may, for just a moment, forget that you exist in the present time and space and travel back to the year and location that I am describing. My goal as a storyteller is to make my audience forget that the present moment exists. I want them to forget that I exist.” (Storyworthy p.291) 

Writer Michelle Tea on the”Personal Writing as a Method for Change, featuring Michelle Tea podcast at shewrites.com

Write Rough Drafts

I decided to take Matthew Dicks’ advice to focus on small moments, and underdog experiences in storytelling–not necessarily the big life-changing or success stories we might first think of.

That in mind, I wrote out a few of the ideas I came up with as free-writes, then typed them up and began the editing process. None are yet refined, but I thought I’d share one of the stories-in-progress here just for giggles:

Biscotti at the Bridal Expo

It’s 2019 and my girlfriend Ela and I attend the Cologne Bridal Expo at Koeln Messe (the trade fair), having received tickets from her ex, who wanted to show her appreciation for Ela and another friend’s helping her prepare the graphics for her Grillmaster Hang Vietnamese street food booth. I have been working very hard to integrate myself into a new country and culture, cried through German language intensive courses, toiled to be sensitive and understood in my teaching, in applying for my work visa, in the grocery store, learning the customs and showing respect to the best of my ability, but I am still new to Germany, far from fluent.

We take the subway across the river, walk through the entryway, festooned with a massive multicolored balloon arch, several other dazzling examples of which are also on display, the competing concepts jostling for attention. We make our way to the booth, which looks awesome with slick yet distinct ambiance evocative of a fantasy Eastern street scene I have yet to experience in real life, with colors of wood, bamboo, green plants, and eye-catching graphics. We all embrace, congratulate the team on getting everything together for the expo, and sample Hang’s delicious appetizers. Her summer rolls are to die for, and we toast with tea. Definitely recommend!

We then drift around all manner of booths to the stage area where our eyes are treated to fashion shows, we listen to live music from harp to Schlager (German hits), peep at diamonds and decorations, view and taste everything Germany’s wedding market has to offer. I reflect that though I’ve been married twice, I have yet to attend such a grand exhibition of wedding wares, and what a funny perspective that is from which to view the festivities.

After much serpentine wandering, I’m wending my way to the back left corner of the huge hall. I pull up to a biscotti booth, where the crispy oblong cookies are appealingly arranged, the array of flavors shining through polished glass jars.

A few people are currently gathered talking to the lady in an apron inside the booth, her hair drawn back into a smart chignon. Taking it all in, I consider which variety to try, and draw one out. I bite into its gratifying expected crunch and wish I had a coffee to go with it as well.

The booth person turns to me, a silver tray of tiny cut-up pieces of biscotti in one hand, tongs with to distribute them in the other, her eyes widening, her face transforming to one of horror, her mouth uttering, all too late, “NEIN!”

But the time to stop me has passed. I’m caught red-handed, the dry texture aleady sucking the moisture from my mouth. Instantly, heat rises to flush my cheeks and chest, turning fully red as I chew and swallow my biscotti bite in shame. All eyes in the group are on me, and only then does my party find their way back to my side.

Deeply embarrassed by my faux pas, indignant at my confusion, and hysterically tickled at the absurdity of the whole situation, I erupt into laughter, scarfing the rest of the biscotti as I round the corner, explaining the shameful debacle that just ensued.  

Despite my efforts to blend, I still can’t fully escape coming across as inconsiderate or entitled, even rude.  My fear come true, I still, and apparently always will, manage to fulfill many people’s expectations of a “rude American”!

I’m grateful there is no penalty, no long-term consequences for such minor foreigner foibles. However, I am left with the knowledge that try as I might, however experienced or sophisticated I work to become, I will always experience embarrassingly human slip-ups! Learning a new language and moving to a new country as an adult is proving terrifying, humbling, and hilarious. 

Next Steps after NaNo

Going forward, I’d like to continue to generate story ideas by doing my Homework for Life, to develop stories to eventually share, and to apply the storytelling tactics I’ve been learning. I’ll share some of my stories on the blog, and hope to eventually publish them in other contexts as well as publish a memoir. The daily habits and storyteller’s ear will continue to be my focus, the enhancement of my quality of life and observation, with lofty goals to inspire.

Considering if I want to participate in NaNoWriMo in November, the next Camp NaNo in April, and what other structures I’d like to support my writing in the future.

Questions for Reflection

  • Do you have an existing “Homework for Life” practice or will you take it on?
  • Which of your stories are waiting to be told?
  • What stories do you find most engaging to hear told or to read?
  • Which practices help you slow down time when life gets frenetic?
  • What support do you need to take your next creative plunge?

Resources for Further Exploration

Feel free to reach out to me via email or on Instagram​ @ablythecoac​​h​, I’d love to hear what you’re creating and I’m grateful we’re connected.

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: ablythecoach.com @ablythecoach

helping multi-passionate creatives

dance through their difficulties

Let’s Write! Camp NaNoWriMo & Creative Structure

Back in the year 2019, having freshly moved from Honolulu, Hawai’i to Cologne, Germany, I began integrating into a new country, learning the language, and teaching. It was still prior to global pandemic, before I started publishing this blog in 2020, and with I wanted to do something to inspire my creativity as well as take steps toward a few long-held goals, such as a full-length ballet idea and the desire to publish books.

Knowing that due to years of higher education, I’m much more practiced with writing essays and dry academic writing (regardless of how scintillating I may find the topics) than more creative compositions, I decided to jump into fiction writing for a change. Thanks to social media, I learned of National Novel Writing Month and took on the challenge to write a novel in a month.

Although I didn’t “win” the challenge that November according to the standard 50,000-word goal, I came closer than ever before with a 18,600-word partial novella and the experience spurred me on to participate in and host further creative challenges, ultimately nurturing lasting habits, inspiration, and a growing body of work.

In 2021 I went on to write a Haiku poem every single day, this year I doodled my way through an Inktober adventure which I also discuss in my Charming Chosen Challenges article, and this July I’m excited to join Camp NaNoWriMo, a more casual writing challenge that takes place in April and July.

What is Camp NaNoWriMo?

According to nanowrimo.org, a rich resource for writing, both novels and other genres:

Camp NaNoWriMo is your next, great writing adventure. Each April and July, tackle your own creative goal in the company of our global writing community.

You can create your own online profile for free, set and track your goal, connect with other writers, and receive motivation and accountability on your journey as an author. NaNoWriMo also have a very informative YouTube channel.

My Camp Goals

For Camp NaNoWriMo I’ve landed on a new challenge to develop true stories from my life that could form the beginning of a memoir. I started by announcing my intention to participate on Instagram (@ablythecoach), opening up a new Evernote document and Bullet Journal spread dedicated to brainstorming for the challenge, and will continue to update my social media and email newsletter subscribers on my progress.

This time around, on the official website, I set my project up as a 1,000 Words goal. What that really means on a daily basis, is that I plan to develop the skill and habit of nonfiction storytelling through the following habits:

  • Keep reading and working exercises from Storyworthy book by Matthew Dicks, for story ideas and crafting techniques
  • Collect Daily Acorns / story ideas (31+ in July) using Homework for Life (noticing story moments in everyday life, in memories), Crash and Burn (which is a freewriting exercise a lot like Morning Pages from The Artist’s Way that I already do weekdays but can always use more effectively), and First Last Best Worst from Storyworthy
  • Craft weekly Short Story Drafts (4 in July)
May our creative efforts be as fruitful as these Lychee from Ka’u, Hawai’i Island

Notes from NaNoWriMo 2019

As I mentioned in the introduction, in 2019 I participated in National Novel Writing Month and began to write my first novella! At the end of the month I still felt that it’s far from complete, but I did write fiction every single day and produced the bones of my first longer work of fiction. I wrote this reflection at the time, in December 2019, but didn’t get around to sharing it here on the blog until now:

“The plotline and characters in their current form are already serving as a libretto for a ballet that I’m choreographing, and I also will go back and edit and add on to the story to flesh it out as a standalone work once I’ve had a break to get perspective on it.

I took on the NaNoWriMo challenge in order to fuel my daily writing habit and to stretch myself creatively in a new way. It worked splendidly! With all I had going on last month, I committed to working on my book for one hour per day, every day, and not to the full official word count of at least 50,000 words. Maybe next year… It was thrilling to go around imagining characters and settings, key scenes, and dialogue. Getting inside the heads of different people and their relationships, what’s important to them and the events of their lives was a magical way to spend any spare thinking moments I had, and to produce work on this project consistently. 

In the end, I came up to about 18,600 words, which is a whole lot more than any other fiction I have written in the past, and to be honest I haven’t written a creative story since I was a child. Academic papers? By the boxful (I can prove it). Books and books of personal journaling, plus some scattered poetry, sure. But to pursue a work of fiction this deep, this fast, was all new to me. It was a huge challenge to show up to write every single day, and I did miss a couple of sessions due to illness, the hours for which I subsequently made up. 

I got Chris Baty’s (one of the NaNoWriMo founders) book, No Plot? No Problem! A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days for my Kindle and it was a fun and inspiring read. Next time I take on NaNoWriMo, I’ll follow the his suggested schedule for preparing in October to jumpstart my month. As it was, I just did a tiny bit of research and thought about characters and point-of-view and then jumped right in. I also indulged in Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear and it is providing ongoing encouragement to realize my creative imagination. I love books about writing and making art, as well as nonfiction on all the topics that interest me, and of course novels, fine and performing arts. I’m great at taking in inputs and information, consolidating, organizing, and cross-referencing, the challenge is to then create my own output. There’s a balance to strike between the two, always learning from written and live sources and also sharing my own ideas and impressions. 

I definitely needed a bit of a break after my intensive stint of writing, and now I will direct my writing time to reflecting on 2019, brainstorming for the new year and decade ahead, this blog, my German writing skills, and poetry. 2020 excites me greatly and I believe there are wonderful things awaiting all of us. As a sort of teaser for the novel I started, which will be born once it’s good and ready, I thought I’d share one of the poems I wrote to accompany the text, perhaps at the beginning of each chapter. It’s a pirate story, and I don’t want to share too many details yet, so here is just a hint:

_
Let’s light this wretched world on fire,
Flaming out against the dark.

Refusing to get caught in the mire,

Facing consequences stark.

Let’s cross the rugged ocean deeps

When destiny’s siren calls,

Sleeping restless dreaming sleeps

After darkness falls.

Let’s overcome those in our path,

Then gather up the plunder.

Fools who fight us feel our wrath,

Before we send them ‘sunder.

Let’s savor freedom’s pungent tang,

And all we can of life.

Sing the songs our heroes sang

Find bounty amidst strife.”
– Blythe Stephens, 2019

Reflection Questions

  • Which skills and habits are you working on currently? 
  • What do you dream of writing or creating?
  • What tends to prevent you from taking on or succeeding at challenges?
  • What support do you need to take your next creative plunge?
  • How might a month of focused effort move that project forward?
  • Which tiny habit(s) could you practice to invite inspiration?

Resources for Further Exploration

Not yet sure when or two what extent I may share the stories I write during Camp, we shall see where the practice takes me. Would you be interested in true stories from my life?

You’re always more than welcome to reach out to me via email or on Instagram​ @ablythecoac​​h​, I’d love to hear what you’re creating, and I’m grateful we’re connected.

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: ablythecoach.com @ablythecoach

helping multi-passionate creatives

dance through their difficulties

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