Last December I participated in an annual recap/reflection blog challenge with Judith Peters, aka “Sympatexter” and it inspired me not just to write yearly summary (which I typically undertake in one form or another), but further to publish monthly reflections since then. Sorry to those who don’t speak German, her challenges, blogs, and videos are all auf Deutsch.
Peters also hosts a “Blogtober” blogging challenge in October, so I decided to jump in for that as well, with the theme this month being to write about what I’d like to accomplish and experience in the last quarter before the end of 2024.
So much can happen in 3 months, even in a matter of days or hours, and now is a great opportunity to take stock of resolutions and goals for the year and and decide what we still want to take action towards achieving, and by the same token what is no longer a priority.
On my list below, some items are bigger and long-term goals, some small, some Fall and holiday Bucket-List type items and experiences to savor.
To-Enjoy in Quarter 4
- Bake Pumpkin Muffins
- Leaf-peeping autumnal walks 🍁 🍂
- Send 31 Pieces of Spooky Correspondence
- Decorate for Halloween, wear flannel
- Sort and deep clean bedroom bookshelves
- Autumnal Reading TBR: Letters to a Young Poet, Rebecca, Nancy Drew, The Cat Who mysteries…
- Make/Have Doctor Appointments: Dentist, Gynecologist, Dermatologist, Orthopedist…preventive care
- Cook up veggie Soups: African Peanut, Carrot Ginger, Tomato-Potato
- Increased Visibility & Community: 1,000 YouTube Subscribers, IG Followers, Email Subscribers
- Increased Income: magnetize students, clients, get a raise, profit
- Financial Fitness: Pay off Credit Card, make a solid plan for 2025
- Satisfactory completion of the RAD / Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Exams by my Tanzschule Tanzraum students, sense of accomplishment and improved technique and artistry (Grades 1, 3)
- Movement Research – explore the Tanz Archiv in Cologne, improvisation practice, choreograph (below)
- Tango improvement, learning to lead and follow: a new style that Ela and I started this year and we’ve since fallen off practicing a bit, but want to keep working on it
- “Wine” Weekend Getaway with friends in Germany in October
- Plan next trip home, next romantic getaway with Ela
- Complete “Twenty-Four 24’s”: Read Books (2 More, see TBR above)
- Blog Articles published (4 more)
- Poems (13 more)
- Letters (13 more), should be no problem with Spooky Correspondence October above
- Choreographies (9 more)
- Practice Instrument (all 24 – maybe December)
- Music Playlists (19 – partial is ok)
- Workshops & Challenges (11 – partial is ok)
- Print Photos and scrapbook: Family Wedding (August), bikes at garden, cat walk, Oktoberfest party, friends and family visits…
- Set up new Bullet Journals: Seasonal/Quarterly Book and Annual BuJo, reflect and celebrate 2024, plan 2025
- Savor Glühwein at the Weihnachtsmärkte: mulled wine (ideally at a Christmas Market in Cologne) and hot cocoa are two of my favorite things in Winter
- Decorate for Christmas, wear my tacky sweater
- Take a hot bath with essential oils
Questions for Reflection
- What is your Word(s) of the Year?
- What were your Quarter 3 highlights and lowlights?
- How do you want to enjoy Quarter 4?
- What holidays, fall and winter traditions are important to you?
- How can I best support you this season?
Resources for Further Exploration
- Quantum Leaping into 2024 Word of the Year Article
- Twenty-Four 24s in 2024 Article
- Say the Magic Words Article
- Blogging My Purpose – the “Why” behind A Blythe Coach Article
- Why Bother Distinguishing Your Why? Personal Purpose Article
- Goal-Setting for Dancers Article
- Analog Journals for Creativity Article
- Self-Care September Article
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Glad to connect with you here, there, on social media (IG @ablythecoach), online or in-person!
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