June to me means PRIDE and my birthday month (though Cologne celebrates PRIDE/Christopher Street Day in July), the Summer Solstice, Father’s Day, Juneteenth, Refugees’ Day, end-of-schoolyear celebrations and goodbyes.
I also like to do some midyear reflection, lots of strawberry eating, rose sniffing, cake, hopeful for sunshine and warmth as spring flowers yield summer fruits in the northern hemisphere.
June’s Joys
In the month of June:
- Summer Solstice / Litha & HOT summery weather!
- PRIDE Month
- Self-Defence/Krav Maga training for my girls’ empowerment elective courses (and me as ell)
- Baked cookies for end-of-schoolyear party
- Bowling & Hitster with friends
- My Birthday, for which I had little energy to plan a celebration (school isn’t yet out here among other things) and Ela thankfully stepped in to help make it festive with eats, drinks and friends
- Father’s Day
- Strawberries, late spring/early summer stone fruits and berries
- Had some super hot heat wave days, a good time to learn how to Complain about the heat in German from odetogermanwords on Instagram
Bullet Journaling & Planning
The above YouTube Video is a flip-through of the month in my Seasonal Book including goals, glows, media favorites, and events I recorded along the way.
I shared my initial setup on Instagram here: “Summer Solstice / Litha, PRIDE Month, Birthday, Dads, Loving Day, Juneteenth, Refugees“
Continued to work in my 2026 Annual Collections, created July spreads, schemed about summer/Quarter 3.
Teaching & Coaching
Gave regular Mindful Movement classes in Balletlicious Ballet Barre+ and Yummy Gentle Yoga online, studio classes in Ballet with additional guest teaching, and my last Well-Being elective courses of the School Year.
Writing & Publishing Articles
I published 2 articles in June, bringing my Quarter 2 total to 3 and first half of 2026 total to 11.
- Anatomy & Kinesiology Resources for Dancers – Teaching Artist’s Collection – Human Movement Analysis article The parent of a curious, talented, and hardworking young ballet student asked me recently what resources I recommend for dancers to learn more about topics such as Anatomy, Kinesiology, Movement Science, and Injury-Prevention. They had noticed some of my articles on Movement Analysis and Sustainable, Mindful Movement and wanted to see what further tools I might know of.
- The Practice of Ballet, an Art if Living – BA in Philosophy Thesis article In this piece (Whitman College, 2003) I explore the uniqueness of ballet technique as a practice that extends the virtue of dancers to their audience, using the philosophical framework of Aristotle, Alasdair MacIntyre, and Elaine Scarry as well as my own experience in dance.
Filming & Sharing Videos
I published 4 videos to the A Blythe Coach YouTube Channel in June, bringing my Quarter 2 total to 11, and first half of 2026 total to 23:
- Anatomy & Kinesiology Resources for Dancers – Dance Educator’s Collection – Human Movement Analysis video:The parent of a curious, talented, and hardworking young ballet student asked me recently what resources I recommend for dancers to learn more about topics such as Anatomy, Kinesiology, Movement Science, and Injury-Prevention. They had noticed some of my articles on Movement Analysis and Sustainable, Mindful Movement and wanted to see what further tools I might know of.
- (Un)Pack with Me Part 2 – Stationery Stash video, where I cover what I brought on my spring trip home to Hawai’i and then back to Cologne in terms of stationery, notebooks and writing utensils. Check out part 1 for my Carryon-only Clothing & Comfort essentials for international travel.
- Small Space Canary Fairy Ballet Variation Pt 2 – solo draft – online students’ reference video extract is from the “Canary Fairy” variation in the ballet “Sleeping Beauty.” In part one, we learned the first portion of a simplified, smaller-space version of the this classical solo, and now in part 2 we practice through to the end. Let’s feel the frolicsome energy of a songbird in springtime together, bestowing blessings on all!
- Dancer’s Daily Log – Journal Prompts for Insight & Growth – Class, Rehearsal, Creative Sessions video: Reflective writing has become an integral part of my personal creative practice and I encourage students and clients to create their own simple process of capturing ideas, insights, and information so they can live extraordinary lives. Consider using my prompts as impulses or others that resonate with you. Just start, then allow the process to evolve as you go!
Connecting: Email & Social Media
Email Newsletter
The best way to keep up-to-date on everything I’m coaching, teaching, creating and sharing about as well as work from others that I believe to be of value for fellow creatives is to subscribe to my email newsletter.
I sent one Email Newsletter in June, “Juicy June, happy PRIDE & birthday month, end of schoolyear sliding into Summer Fun“ bringing my Quarter 2 total to 3 and first half of 2026 total to 6.
Socials
In June I also posted 5 times to Instagram, for a Quarter 2 total of 13, and frst half of 2026 total to 32. It is my honor to be connected to you there, here, online and in-person!
Creative Challenges
In June my creative “challenges” included my Whimsical Summer Arts & Crafts Camp, creating curricula for my in-person and online classes, video filming, editing and writing.
Twenty 26s in 2026
Inspired by Jess/JashiiCorrin on YouTube), this creative challenge is a playful way to track various leading metrics, projects and activities I wish to keep an eye on.
Having found such a structure useful since 2023, I continued to choose and measure progress on projects in a similar way each year since, publishing my Twenty 26s in 2026: Analog Project Planning & Action Tracking, Creative Bullet Journal Style article in early February this year and an update after Q1, March Like a Toy Soldier in “The Nutcracker” and on the Street – 2026 Month 3 & Quarter 1 Reflection article.
Quarter Two & Six Month “Twenty 26s” Update
In Quarter 2, I reached a minimum of 26 in 3 further tasks or sessions, for a total of 11/20 focus areas:
- Yoga Practice Sessions
- Meditation Sessions
- Gratitude & Abundance Appreciation
- German Language Learning Practice Sessions
- Collections/Projects/Bullet Journal Spreads set up
- Daily “Captain’s Logs”
- Morning Pages Written
- Classes Taught
- Physical Therapy
- Financial Fun
- Social Media (IG posts)
Will be back with more updates next quarter and along the way…
Media Musings
My June in reading, listening, and viewing pleasures:
Books & Reading
Books
In June I finished reading one novel, which brought my Quarter 2 total to 4 and first half of 2026 total to 12.
- Finished my second book by Carley Fortune (read One Golden Summer in September), Every Summer After, and now there is a film, “Every Year After” that I want to watch after I finish it
- The Shell Seekersby Rosamunde Pilcher in progress on Kindle, sweeping and only 30% in on my second lending from the library…
- Also added these Queer Book Recs from a Lesbian to my TBR for Pride Month and all year ’round
Poetry
- My 2026 daily anthology is Everyday Shakespeare: Lines for Life compiled by Ben Crystal and David Crystal continues to inspire
Listening Highlights
Favorite things heard over the course of the month go here, such as concerts, songs, pieces of music, playlists, podcasts and more.
Music
Songs & Pieces of Music
- “Heat Waves” by Glass Animals
- “Hot Girl Summer” by Megan Thee Stallion (explicit)
Playlists & Albums
- NEW Heatwave! playlist on YouTube
- Balletlicious Summertime Dance playliston YouTube
- A Pirate’s Life for Me – Music to Be Free playlist on YouTube
- 2026 Plucky Tunes playlist on YouTube is a new one to collect all the best new tracks and classic melodies that come up over the course of the year
Viewing Highlights
Art
- Saw Yayoi Kusama’s exhibition in Cologne at Museum Ludwig and it changed me. Such an incredible collection of works in a vast array of media produced over the course of her entire life. This will continue to inspire me for a long time, with haunting and beautiful themes.
Sport
- Grand Sumo May Tournament Highlights on NHK, started watching with my folks in Kona, then finished the tournament upon our return to Cologne.
Dance
Romy & Juliet is on my wish list!
Film
- “Germaine Acogny: die Essenz des Tanzes” about the “mother of contemporary African dance” with dance-loving friends in the theatre at Filmpalette Köln and so grateful to learn about her work
YouTube
- English National Ballet’s “Emerging Dancer” program 2026 is a beautiful collection of classical and contemporary works set on these exciting young talents
Series
Streamed:
- “The Four Seasons” 2nd season I loved the development of these beloved characters, with drama and humor
- Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story True Crime documentary is indeed chilling
Q2 Special Memories
- Going Home! April into May we had family time, saw friends and my mentor, guest taught ballet, beached, got engaged
- Birthdays: Dad, Adem, me
- West Hawai’i Dance Theatre visit, viewing the Hawai’i Island Choreographers’ Concert on video
- Tai Chi by the Sea with Sifu Chee, World Tai Chi & Qigong Day
- May Grand Sumo Tournament highlights viewing
- Ritterspiele: Renaissance Faire & Jousting at a real castle, Schloss Satzvey
- Kulinarische Schnitzeljagd: Culinary Tour by bike with friends in Cologne
Questions for Reflection
- How did your Quarter 2 and first half of the year take shape?
- What projects are your passion this quarter?
- What highlights, lowlights, and lessons have you experienced?
- What will you enjoy before the end of the year?
- To what shall I listen next?
Resources for Further Exploration
- Pluck Luck in 2026 – Word / Intention of the Year Article
- Twenty 26s in 2026: Analog Project Planning & Action Tracking, Creative Bullet Journal Style Article
- Float in 2025 – Word / Intention of the Year Article
- Twenty 25s in 2025: Analog Project Planning & Action Tracking, Creative Bullet Journal Style Article
- 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
- Analog Journals for Creativity Article
Explorations in dance, coaching, and creative living continue!
Thank you for reading, for being, and for dancing with me, in spirit or in fact.
Take care of yourself and keep moving mindfully, let me know how if I can be of service, would love to see you in my email newsletter or on social media as well.
Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst they/she
Creator of A Blythe Coach @ablythecoach
dancing through difficulty
taking leaps of faith