September feels like a new beginning.. or at least like the hint of one. The days are still warm, but the evenings and early morning begin to feel cool. The pumpkins and mums fill the stores (even if it’s too early) you can officially order a fall-inspired beverage from your favorite coffee shops (PSL anyone?). It is the beginning of the last quarter of the year and each subsequent following month there will be a holiday and a cause to celebrate. We have something to look forward to.
I think that is my favorite part of fall, things to look forward to. Our county fair will happen next month, it has become an annual fall event we look forward to going to with our kids. There’s also the book fair at my son’s preschool (by far my favorite fundraiser- please don’t ask me to sell chocolate bars or Tupperware or tickets- however, I’ll gladly give you all my money for books and make sure all my family members are getting books as gifts this year).
Fall is the peak season for creativity and project launches- for new television series to launch new seasons, for artists to release new albums, and for that once-in-a-lifetime movie to release over Thanksgiving break or on a chilly Friday night in October.
While I dream about my someday projects, like hosting a creative retreat or workshop, or having a book launch party I’m celebrating some inspiring moments and things as small as they may be. I love reading others’ “round-up” lists. I need the reminder the world is so much bigger than my own and beautiful worthwhile things are still being created and made and ready to be enjoyed! In honor of the hint of a new season here are some round up lists to inspire you in this new season.
A good list (Cue Erin Loechner Chasing Slow) for August/September so far:
Listen: Coffee and crumbs podcast. (Spotify ) Our favorite books of 2022 so far. I’ve always wanted to be one of “those” people who listen to podcasts but have only listened to a handful. On a recent road trip for a specialist appointment that was put off for 2 years, I had 6 hours of driving roundtrip and listened to 4 podcasts. This was one of them, if you're a bibliophile who loves book recommendations I highly recommend it!
Read: Where the crawdads sing. Beautiful writing, character development, and a surprise ending. I read more nonfiction than fiction these days, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one and did not want to put it down once I started.
Watch: Mrs. Harris goes to Parris (Streaming on Amazon Prime). A sweet heartfelt film. Love how it explores/shows the value/importance of beauty in our lives. Ya know how there’s a movie you always want to see but it’s easier to watch an episode ( or three) of a new show than it is to watch a movie? Me too. I finally broke that streak with this movie.
Try: An artist date! I have yet to read the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, but it is widely quoted in the creative community and I believe the term “artist date” was coined by her. It could be as exciting or adventurous as exploring a new place like a museum, antique shop, or thrift store, or could be as simple as going to a coffee shop for an hour, or maybe just listening to a new podcast or album while you commute to or from work/school/ or the grocery store. Anything that refills your creative cup or inspires you.
Looking forward to:
Joanna Gaines's new book, “The stories we tell” releasing on November 8th.
Kate Baer’s new poetry collection, “And yet” releasing on November 8th.
The new midnight album by Taylor Swift releasing on October 21st, at midnight of course.
I’ll be choosing joy, love, connection, and abundance and nature and small pleasures as rebellion, rebellion to the scarcity mentality, rebellion to an overwhelmed world, rebellion to the uncertainties and worries of a season of transition.
What small things are you looking forward to in this season? What would make your good list? Let’s inspire each other in this new season!