Summer Solstice Commitments to Practice

Happy Summer Solstice to all!!
Wednesday seems to be my blogging day now, thanks to Jamie Ridler. 

I may yet again reach a day when my posts consist of more than simply answering Jamie's Wishcasting Wednesday query. 

But for now, this is it.  I have many ideas brewing, it just seems to be pinning down the time to tackle them!

Today, the question is, "What do you wish for this summer?"

Although I will be working part-time throughout the summer, there are many things I wish to accomplish.

Mainly because the end of this summer marks the end of much of my free time.
I will be starting a full-time job in September!!  I am very excited about this new opportunity.
I am also trying not to panic at said loss of free time.

So, I believe the most important thing for me to do is to become more efficient with my time and I plan on doing this over the summer by creating some schedules, menu plans and routines to ease the transition for myself and my family.

I also have two weekdays off each week this summer and so I plan to make the most of those by spending precious time with my little girl, doing the things that she wants to be doing. 

This I know, will consist of much time
~swimming in the river
~a trip to Canada's Wonderland
~the Toronto Science Centre
~and the ROM 

Fortunately, these are things that I am totally into doing as well.
Especially the many days we will spend at the river :-)

Blogger friend Christine Reed who writes Girl On Fire and Monkey Brains  prompted me today as well, with this question:

"We are in the new moon (June's moon is the Strawberry moon) AND at the Summer Solstice. Seems like an auspicious time to commit to a new practice of growth and exploration. ♥ ♥ ♥ What practice do you need in your life?"

The answer to this question is simple, although not new.

Music.

Again and again and again.
I keep needing to pull myself back to what I love.


Blogger friend Pauline at journal illustrations reminded me today that:

"Habit is about baby steps"
And she is right.  That's why I'm starting small.  I'm committing to starting out with:

10 minutes each morning of guitar/singing practice
(Why do I forget again and again how joyful this makes me?)

Also, reconnecting with my morning pages practice as that always encourages me to practice my passions.  However, I'm going to be an "Artist's Way" Rebel and only do 10 minutes (gasp!)

And one more habit is to move this body, through 10 minutes of walking or yoga which provides me with the energy necessary to fulfill my main practice of growth and exploration.  Which of course is:

finding Joy through Music!

Time to renew my vows to "Commit".  It is still, afterall, my word of the year!  Oh how quickly I forget!!

What do you wish for this summer?

Belongings I Wish For

Thank goodness for Jamie Ridler!  If it were not for her Wishcasting Wednesday Challenges, I might not be blogging at all!

Today she asks "What belongings do you wish for? (remember when you were a kid and you allowed yourself to wish for things?  Let yourself do that today!)

Well, I just happen to love lists and usually have many on handy regarding any number of things, including, yes you may have guessed, belongings that I wish for!!

In fact, on my fridge, as part of a vision board exercise, I have three mini posters.
They are titled "Do", "Be", and "Have".  The "Have" poster consists of belongings and other "things" I'd like to have that are not actually belongings such as a neat and tidy home, a tribe of supportive friends and well manicured fingernails!!

So I decided to adapt my "Have" list into a "Belongings I Wish For" list.
Then I took a picture of it.



It's kinda hard to read here so here is the list:

• Bookshelves (so books can live there instead of in boxes!)
• New Pillows
• The perfect Hall Tree (to cut down clutter in the hallway)
• Bee's Wax Candles aplenty! (love the smell of these)
• A radio for my kitchen (instead of streaming from my laptop which is using up precious bandwidth)
• Wall hooks (for sweaters, jackets, bags and purses)
• A Ukelele, just because
• More Artwork (to decorate our walls)
• New Lamps for the bedroom
• a Lamp above the island in the kitchen
• Futon Frame for our Spare Oom (so guests will have a place to sleep)
• Fluffy New Bath Sheets (you know, really big bath towels!)
• Fine Wines!!
• Shelving for all my teaching supplies (for ease of orginization) 

Just a few things that I wish for.

In visiting other participating blogs,
I tried to see if there was any common thread in our wishes.
The result?
Many people are wishing for new beds or mattresses or pillows
Here's to a good night's sleep!

What belongings do you wish for?