Let’s romanticize, gamify, and bring the fun to our learning and creating goals this season with a “Personal Curriculum!” It is a trending topic that I can really jump on board with.
This nerd is ahead of the times, as I lifelong student constantly pursuing curiosity. You can also check out my 2022 Fall Curriculum article for more about what was on the “syllabus” then.
Here’s what I’m planning on researching, teaching, reading, writing, creating & listening to in cozy season 2025. Would love to know what’s on your learning agenda as well!
Get in the Mood to Grow
Current topics encompass ballet, dance and mindful movement, well being and Safer Spaces, creativity, languages, travel and adventure. Following my curiosity is a blast, but not necessarily easy, so here are a couple points to keep in mind.
Making (Scary) Learning Fun
Pursuing curiosity and a variety of interests can be fun adventurous, but also intensely confronting, as growth is uncomfortable, challenging, even a struggle, confusing, dis-illusioning. Language and communication are complex, expanding our horizons strange.
All the more reason to romance our studies as much as we can. Myself, I enjoy treating my inner Artist Child (from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way) with books and creative supplies. Indeed, I was fortunate to grow up with parents and close family who indulged my educational and artistic passions so I was also able to find teachers who made learning fun and opened doors for my lifelong love of knowledge.
Slow Growth
You know what is humbling about this declaration and reflection process?
Discovering that many goals I announced in the past have only recently come to pass. Books I have yet to read to completion, topics I still know little about, dance forms in which I am still very much a beginner (ahem, Tango).
Reading my 2022 Fall Curriculum and 2024 Quarter 4 “To Enjoy” List articles, I identified several intentions which were finally in 2025 fulfilled: exploring the Deutsches Tanzarchiv/German Dance Archive and reaching over 1,000 YouTube subscribers for a couple examples, and others where I’m still solidly a beginner.
Of course it makes sense that many topics are threads that continue to weave through my life over the long term, and without firm deadlines extenuating circumstances do tend to happen, extending the time needed to make measurable gains. Fatigue and adult responsibilities do creep in.
But the idea of creating a fresh “Curriculum” or “Syllabus” is to keep going, celebrate progress, evaluate actions and priorities, recommit to learning, growth and creativity.
Twenty 25s in 2025
Having enjoyed the benefits of tracking “Twenty-three 23’s in 2023” and “Twenty-four 24’s in 2024” actions in my Bullet Journal collections (idea from Jess or JashiiCorrin on YouTube), I came back for more of this structure, with “Twenty 25s in 2025!”
Arranged according to my 8 major focus areas; Read, Write, Create, Practice, Serve, Connect, Sustain, and Adventure; in this way I get a somewhat holistic picture of my intentions and goals for the year. Therefore an assessment of my progress on my “25s” was a fitting piece of my “Curriculum” planning.
You may also wish to consider your topics of study or pillars of practice as you design your own curriculum.
My Fall Subjects
Major topics at a glance are Reading & Research, Writing, Creating Dance, Ballet, Art & Music Ballet, Mindful Movement Practices such as Yoga & Meditation, Cooking & Food.
Learning Activities
My action steps this season include:
Read & Research
- Spirit, Scripture: Daily Bible & Qu’ran passages, other inspirational works
- Poetry: 365 Poems for Life: An Uplifting Collection for Every Day of the Yearcompiled by Allie Esiri plus supplementary texts
- Nonfiction, Growth:
- The Notebook: a History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen
- Airplane Mode: An Irreverent History of Travel by Shahnaz Habib
- Someday is Today by Matthew Dicks I just finished, have been working on it slowly all year
- The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
- Fiction:
- The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Evocation: Book I in The Summoner’s Circle by S.T. Gibson
- A Discovery of Witches: A Novel (All Souls Trilogy, Book 1) by Deborah Harkness
- Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
- The Nancy Drew mystery series by Carolyn Keene is always on my spooky season TBR
- The Cat Who mystery series by Lillian Jackson Braun likewise
- The Vampire Knitting Club series by Nancy Warren samesies
- The Veronica Speedwellseries yeah I’m a sucker for cozy mysteries!
Research Topics (reading, viewing, practicing):
- Safer Spaces
- Gender Expansiveness in Ballet & Dance
- Dance History: Massine, Nijinska, Offenbach…
- Ballet Choreography, Performance, Technique & Pedagogy:
- “The Nutcracker” Ballet (performance preparation)
- “Swan Lake” Ballet (general research)
- Royal Academy of Dancing syllabus, Grades 2 & 4
- Ballet for pre-professional dancers in other styles
Write
Much of my creativity and productivity involves writing, including personal processing, organizational planning, video planning, articles, challenges, and letters:
- Daily Logs
- Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Annual Reflections in Bullet Journal & shared here
- Articles, for example:
- “Swan Lake” Ballet (part of my Flights of Fancy series)
- Creativity
- Relatedness & Connection
- Poems
- Letters
- Books…
Create
Videos, Choreography, Coaching Tools, Bullet Journal Spreads, Sketching, playing Music & creating Playlists, Baking & making delicious food…
Videos
Video series: Update, Edit, Refresh the Balletlicious Syllabus. Create & share weekly YouTube videos such as:
- Plumb Line
- Adage
- Petit Allegro
- Ballet Bun
- Dance Floors & more…
Choreos
Movement research solo and in collaboration, improvisation, choreography for class and stage. Considering doing a “Dance Daily December” again, would you join in?
Music
Creating and sharing playlists, listening to music new and old, finding pieces for dance choreography, and this season I hope to pick up practicing the Harmonica again as well.
- Listen to specific pieces of music & playlists (a few below)
- Practice tunes on Harmonica
Playlists
- Savoring September playlist on YouTube
- Spooky October Sounds playlist on YouTube
- Send Me Sighing – Bluesy Autumnal Jazz playlist on YouTube
- Harvest & Thanksgiving Sounds playlist on YouTube
Cooking, Food, Eating
‘Tis the season for baking and cozy comfort foods! In Fall and Winter I especially go for quick breads/muffins, simple cookies to share with students and friends (or not), warm soups and some meal prepping ahead for very busy days and weeks.
- Bake
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Sugar Cookies to decorate
- Ginger Snaps
- Apple Cinnamon Muffins
- Pumpkin Muffins
- Cook/Prep
- Ricecooker Oats
- Overnight Oats
- Carrot Sticks for dipping
- Jar Salads
- Soups
Practice
Languages, Adulting & Living Abroad, yoga, pranayama, meditation and mindfulness, physical therapy, dance techniques, improvisation, composition and criticism…there is a lot I am practicing to improve!
Ballet & Dance
Ballet: RAD Exam Syllabi (especially Grades 2 & 4), “The Nutcracker” & “Swan Lake” classical ballets, Seasonal Music, Choreography for Classes, Video, Stage
Dance: Nikolais-Louis Modern Dance Technique, Bartenieff Fundamentals, Laban Movement Analysis, Improvisation, Choreography, Criticism
Yoga & Mindful Movement
- Daily Yoga, Somatics study, weekly Physical Therapy practices (resistance band, foam roller, ball, stretch, pull-up bar…)
- Meditation & Pranayama: repeat Schuyler Grant’s “The Chill Pill” Course on Commune, daily meditation sessions
- Gratitude & Abundance daily
Coaching
- Coaching, Learning & Change – translating coaching tools into German and for the demographics I’m currently working with most intensively, youth and young adults
Languages, German, Life Abroad
Language Learning:
- Deutsch – Duolingo Daily for vocabulary & grammar practice
- Hawaiian, French, Turkish…
German Residency: Prepare for work Visa Renewal in 2026, eventual Driver’s License…
Adventure & Celebration
Travel & explore, together & alone, regional & international, always seek to enjoy life! This “semester” we have a getaway with friends to Belgium planned, I want to get tickets for my next visit home, family & friends will visit from abroad, and Ela will celebrate her birthday (and many other birthday fests in November!).
Related Resources
- Fall 2022 Curriculum – Self Study & Practices of a Creative Professional Article
- To-Enjoy List for Quarter 4 – Blogtoberfest 2024 – finishing the year satisfied Article
- How to Find & Foster Safe(r) Spaces in a Diverse Dancing Life Article
- 2022 Favorites & Highlights – Reading, Listening, & Viewing Pleasures Article
- Annual Refresh – Reflection, Clearing, & Planning Process Article
- Ignite the Spark of Creativity – 6 Ways to Be Inspired Article
- Twenty-Four 24’s in 2024: Analog Project Planning & Action Tracking, Creative Bullet Journal Style Article
- Inspiring Inputs: 2023 Reading, Listening, Viewing & Media Article
- Dance Daily December & into the New Year – 31 Days of Movement to Change Your Life Article
- Dance Daily December Recap – 31 Days of Movement to Change Your Life & 7 ways it did Article
- Leaps & Bounds in 2024 – Reflecting on a Year’s Highs & Lows Article
- Float in 2025 – Word / Intention of the Year Article
- Twenty 25s in 2025: Analog Project Planning & Action Tracking, Creative Bullet Journal Style Article
- Reflective Practice & Journaling
- Bullet Journaling for Organization & Creativity
- Yoga for Energy
- Meditation Practice
- Building Healthy Habits
- Creative Morning Ritual
- Simple & Healthy Eating
- Minimalism & simplicity
- How I coach creatives
Questions for Reflection
- What are you looking forward to learning this season?
- Which books are on your TBR?
- Will you be baking certain treats or preparing special meals?
- Which pieces of music or playlists will accompany your study?
- How will you romanticize and enjoy the work to be done?
- What are you creating?
- What makes you curious?
- What creations will you make and share?
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 email newsletter. Would love to hear about what you’re currently learning, teaching, and creating there, on social media, online or in-person.
Thanks for reading and moving together in spirit or in fact. Take care of yourself, pay attention, and hope to see you again.
Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
they/them or she/her
Creator of A Blythe Coach @ablythecoach
taking leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life