New Beginnings

At this time of year, I get motivated to look towards our new school year. We've had some time off even though I have this grand idea every year that we're going to do school all summer. One of these years, I may let go of that and enter our reality which is: we don't do school in the summer. We read and hang out and go on vacation and go into water and think deep thoughts and some not-so-deep thoughts but we don't "do school". So, when I feel that feeling in the pit of my stomach that says "It's time to start planning" I go with it and I love it. This year, we've come up with a whole chore chart, "schedule", plan thing and we started that last Monday. It's been going rather well so far and we all agreed that it's nice to get our bodies and minds used to all of that before starting school. This week, we've started doing some reading and some Spanish. Nothing major, just something to wake up the ol' brain cells. I have to say that as much as I really enjoy creating our days each day, it's also nice to get back into some structure. It's a beginning in the middle of the year. I find that it's really nice to have several "beginnings" throughout the year because, let's face it, we lose motivation. Things are so exciting at the beginning of something and then the sheen wears off and we have to stay motivated and that's not nearly as fun.

We've all been there: started an exercise program on January 1 but by February 1, we're tired of it. We love the idea of going back to school and love shopping for clothes and supplies and all of that but by October, it's worn off and you're just in school for the next 8 months and looking forward to summer vacation. I have found that by creating several beginnings in our year, it helps to keep us motivated and by recognizing and honoring each season and mid-season it doesn't seem like it's all taking so long.

The fall feels like a beginning to me because we do get back into our school groove but also, I love the crispness that fall brings, the harvest, time with family and friends and that leads into the Holiday season where we take plenty of time off of school to enjoy all of the concerts, parades, baking, preparing and all that is the Holiday Season. We start back up with school again after we've taken down all of our decorations...sometime in the 2nd week of January. Candlemas comes in February and is the midpoint between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox and let's face it, we all need something to celebrate in February! Of course spring is so full of new beginnings with the earth waking up and everything (including the kids) growing like crazy. We love feeling the warming days, being outside and rosy, muddy cheeks and always new rain boots for stomping in all of the great puddles! And before we know it, we're planting gardens and watching things grow and summer is back with all of the long days, and everything we can pack into them. By seeing each of these things as a new beginning, we're able to consistently be motivated throughout the year and that's really lovely.

Unfortunately, I seem to be missing my motivation right now and it's bugging me. I know that quite soon I'll find it again so I figure I might as well ride this out - especially since we seem to actually be getting summer again this week. Time for some good dog days of summer and then, when that crisp fall air hits, I know that I'll get that feeling in the pit of my stomach and we'll be off to the races once again with another new beginning.