October was an extra-long, very action-packed, fun, and also anxious for various reasons. I managed to vote in the US Primary Election and was worried about the outcome, as well as my Mom’s upcoming knee surgery and various other concerns personal and professional.
A short visit with family members I haven’t seen in ages was lovely. Our weekend escape to Mendig with friends was a refreshing adventure. My new fountain pen hobby provided creative diversion.
October provided peak activity & foliage
In teaching, the month was very productive, focusing on well-being, self-care, Ballet technique basics & exam preparation for my students. Amidst an eventful month, I continued to create and publish work.
Gorgeous changing and falling leaves swirled around the whole month here in Cologne and the surrounding area, through sun and fog and political drama.
Bullet Journaling & Planning
October brought cats, pumpkins, bats, and Halloween to my Bullet Journal, and I shared my initial setup on Instagram here. I continued to update my Monthly, Weekly, and Daily logs and Annual Collections. Since the last week transitioned from October to November and I was “behind” due to getting sick, I waited until early November to set up that month’s pages.
The above YouTube Video is a flip-through of the month in my Seasonal Book including goals, glows, media favorites, and events.
I also created a Spooky October Correspondence spread, updated my Twenty-Four 24’s spreads, and re-established a previous practice, about which I wrote in my email newsletter:
“Back in my training with Accomplishment Coaching in Seattle, we were encouraged in months with 5 weeks (or where most of the days in the week fall into that month, about quarterly), to take time off on the 5th week. This provides a natural pause from weekly activities and results in still consistently meeting or producing work an average of 4 times per month as well as time to reflect and recover outside of observed holidays.
Since I’ve been serving more in academic and studio settings and creating online, I’ve let this healthy practice fall by the wayside, but I want to revive it now and into 2025. Depending on class scheduling and students needs, I will continue to offer classes mostly every week, but will take a break from publishing my (otherwise weekly) email newsletter on those weeks and may also skip a blog article or video if I see fit.”
In fact, it was a well-timed pause from publishing. Just need to schedule it into my calendar for next January, April, July, and October. There aren’t any other holidays that should affect my teaching schedule until the winter break.
Teaching & Coaching
Regular Mindful Movement classes in Balletlicious Ballet Barre+ and Yummy Gentle Yoga continued throughout, and studio classes in Ballet and Barre a Terre continued, School Elective courses had a two-week Fall Break and then everything returned to full fall swing.
The Daylight Savings Time change happened in Germany on October 27th and that always throws me for a bit of a loop, but everyone managed to make it to class on time and I’m adjusting to the dark time of year.
There are a couple of coaching slots available this season and I will keep you posted on further offerings as they come together!
Writing & Publishing Articles
In October I published five articles to the blog:
- To-Enjoy List for Quarter 4 – Blogtoberfest 2024 – finishing the year satisfied is inspired by the work (in German) of Judith Peters, aka Sympatexter, to help diverse writers publish meaningful blogs to their websites
- A Sensational September & Season – 2024 Month 9 & Quarter 3 Review wraps up the past month and quarter in my life and resources I’ve shared
- Dance Shoe Blues – Footwear Identity Crisis – What to wear to class?is an informal chat with more information about what dance shoes I regularly use and what is appropriate for a first movement class for adults or children
- Pen Friends – Inky Adventures in Writing is for my true Pen Friends, people who are nerdy about their writing tools and creative gear, and for my future self as I reflect on my journey, from the grand themes to the minute moments of beauty like those when pen meets paper.
Filming & Sharing Videos
My YouTube Channel and Blog have been where I’ve seen the most growth in visibility and with your help I may be able to reach 1,000 subscribers to the A Blythe Coach YouTube Channel before the end of 2024!
I published four videos to the A Blythe Coach YouTube Channel in October:
Connecting: Email & Social Media
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.
I sent four weekly Email Newsletters in October, full of value-packed resources for fellow creatives, and posted six times to Instagram. It is my honor to be connected to you there, here, on social media, online and in-person!
Creative Challenges
For October creative projects, I worked on “Spooky” Letter-Writing, RAD Ballet Syllabus Exam preparation for my students, working in my journals and writing with my new fountain pens in addition to regular article-writing, choreography, video filming and editing.
Twenty-Four 24s in 2024
At the end of October I published my 24th Blog Article, Pen Friends – Inky Adventures in Writing just happened to be the one, and I’ve just got to complete reading one more book and that goal will also be accomplished. Of course I’ll continue publishing articles and the rest beyond the arbitrary twenty-four goal (inspired by Jess/JashiiCorrin on YouTube), this creative challenge is just a playful way to track various metrics I wish to keep an eye on.
Having found such a structure useful this year, for 2025 I may reduce the number of categories to 20, and raise the actions by one for a catchy “Twenty 25s in 2025.”
Media Musings
My October in terms of reading, listening, and viewing pleasures:
Books & Reading
Books Read
Still reading along on my nonfiction picks (poetry, scripture, self-help), and I completed two novels in October:
- “We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from New York Times bestselling author, National Book Award finalist, and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart. Read it And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.” The writing is lyrical, characters endearing, and oh wow the reveal is so intense! Not usually a suspense reader, but this one was riveting, mysterious, tragic, and well-suited to spooky season.
- My latest in the silly action-packed Finlay Donovan Rom-Com series by Elle Cosimano is #4: Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice and I appreciate the self-conscious commentary on how absurd the plot action is from the main characters themselves, a light antidote to the heaviness of the previous read.
Listening Highlights
Favorite things heard over the course of the month go here, such as concerts, songs, pieces of music, playlists, podcasts and more.
Music: Songs & Albums
It was time to update and enjoy my Spooky October Sounds Playlist on YouTube, including tracks such as:
- “Season of the Witch” by Lana Del Rey
- “Sarabande in D minor” by Handel
Viewing Highlights
Films
October movies watched:
- “Will & Harper” is a documentary of a real friendship
- “The Age of Adelaide” was nicely done but strange, kind of like “Benjamin Button”
- “Lonely Planet” was about a writer’s retreat, well-acted but not my favorite plot-wise
Series
Series streamed in October:
- “Poker Face” is definitely one of my favorites of the year, Natasha Lyonne is so talented!
- “Worst Ex Ever” is a collection of true crime stories
Questions for Reflection
- What do you want to remember from October/the past month?
- Which books, musical selections, and viewing do you currently recommend?
- How are you planning for a creative and festive season?
Resources for Further Exploration
- Quantum Leaping into 2024 Word of the Year Article
- Twenty-Four 24s in 2024 Article
- To-Enjoy List for Quarter 4 2024 Article
- Say the Magic Words Article
- Why Bother Distinguishing Your Why? Personal Purpose Article
- Analog Journals for Creativity Article
Let’s keep in touch, keep dancing, and never hesitate to let me know if I can be of service, would love to see you in my email newsletter or on social media!
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