October, November, & December Updates

A tough season punctuated with some small professional wins and worthwhile happy things. To finish what I started (blogging periodic updates this year), I will share the last few months in brief.

What I Read

NOT MUCH. I have struggled to read this season and that’s been hard in and of itself. I only made it through two books, abandoning many others and wondering what happened to my reading habits. 

• I Know How She Does it (Vanderkam) - a reread
• Living Waters: Reading the Rivers of the Lower Great Lakes (Wooster)

​

One of a number of good books I abandoned in my reading slump.

What I Worked On

A collaborative piece on winter birds for the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy that I really enjoyed writing. I got to learn about birds from my coauthor at the WNY Land Conservancy. We are also working on a bird identification micro-course to help new birders spot winter birds on Lake Erie, to share soon. After this, some birding may be in my future!

A reflection piece for the end of the year with the RWPC Heritage Engagement Project. I absolutely LOVE reflection writing and other reflective activities in December. I used to just dive into January and fresh start mode but now I see the deep benefits of starting with a reflection on the year ending.

A year-end reflection on my consulting work. I wanted to take a reflective look at my consulting work, especially since I hit a major rut these past four months. My new full-time job and other life changes left me without time and energy to write, develop existing and explore new projects, consider a clearer vision for my business etc. BUT, despite ending on a low note, casting a wider glance back helps me remember progress still happened. There are things I am proud of and there was growth, even if it was small. Once again, a big fan of taking time to reflect like this.

A new project with the Greenland team is in its early stages and I cannot be more excited. (If only I could find more time to work on it). If it launches, it will be small in scope but meaningful to me. Its exciting just to reengage in this area of the world that captured my fascination when I stepped foot on its icy shores three years ago. I will share more later.

Completion of my Women-Owned Business Enterprise Certification with New York State, a very time consuming and complex process. This certification will allow me to bid competitively on projects posted in the New York Contract Reporter. Have I had any time to do anything but pat myself on the back for this one? Nope. But maybe New Year energy will change that. 

Photo from my 2021 trip to Greenland, which I've been thinking about this season!

What I Struggled With

Pregnancy: I found out I am expecting my 4th this season and the physical (and mental) exhaustion seemed to infiltrate my every cell. I was sick every day, almost all day. I just started my new 8-5 job (in an entirely new field) and the combination of the two centers of exhaustion and uncertainty collided HARD. This showed me the deep importance of health and energy for doing things I love. Take away my health (or in this case, make me feel unhealthy, even though my symptoms were for a healthy pregnancy) and take away my energy and things go south fast. These past few months saw very little of things I greatly enjoy (reading, walking, cooking, writing, time in nature, moments of solitude, exciting new work projects). Their absence proved how much these small things matter. I enter the new year with a newfound appreciation for my normally high levels of good health and energy. 

New job: I am still not accustomed to the new full-time position that has changed so much of my life. Not only what I do, but when and where I do it has altered drastically. For one thing, I went from almost complete control over my work schedule…to none. Which leads to my next struggle…
​
The loss of normal routines and rhythms. Without WFH and schedule flexibility and being expected at the office by 8am each morning, our family’s morning and evening routines became difficult. Likewise, an in-office 8-5 schedule eliminated important rituals.  For example, it took away the buffer time I had between the morning kid routine and starting work, when I usually read for a few minutes with coffee, or simply gathered thoughts in solitude. Same with the end of day - I often built in a little time alone before the rest of the family got home. I cooked (simply) while disconnecting from work. I enjoy cooking dinner and miss it. You would think after four months new routines/rhythms would emerge. In some areas they have, but they are not ones I particularly like. Leaving my husband to fend for himself getting three small children ready for two different drop offs in two different towns during the week IS a new routine…just not one either of us likes. 
​

​What I Enjoyed

The things above really impacted me most days and I spent these months in survival mode. But a few bright spots include:

A solo writing retreat in Lake Placid that allowed me to write the two RWP articles I mention above, as well as gain some much needed solitude. I always equip these solo writing nights with good food and good rest, and the drive through the Adirondacks in silence is enough to get me relaxed and ready to write. Given I had barely written two words in this period before this retreat night, breaking my writer’s block felt amazing. 

Lunchtime and Friday night yoga classes. Finding a weekly, then biweekly lunchtime yoga class was amazing, as was a few specialty classes that paired live music with yoga on three Friday evenings. 

Elementary classroom visits: I was able to do two school-visits to my kindergartner’s class - a Halloween craft day and a gingerbread decorating party. His transition to full-time school was a bit bumpy, so these bright spots were good (for him and for me). 

Coffee/brunch get-togethers: a few coffee/brunch dates with former colleagues, students, and friends. The older I get the more comfortable I am acknowledging that small group or one-on-one things are preferable for me compared to large gatherings. I love to really talk to someone, without distraction. Friend dates this season, including some with brand new colleagues, were bright spots.

Halloween and beautiful fall weather. North Country this fall was stunning - warm, calm, and colorful. While unseasonable warmth unsettles me, I would be lying to say I didn’t enjoy it. Halloween was one of those beautiful days. I took half the day off of work, which allowed me to visit my Kindergartner’s classroom, see both elementary school kids in their outdoor parade, get dinner and snacks ready for the after-school pre-trick-or-treating rush, and go into the evening without feeling like I lost my mind. 

Time with other parents. Befriending the parents of your kids’ friends is a big move in increasing your happiness while raising little kids. These are people you can look forward to sitting next to at hockey games, greet cheerfully at school-events, and get together with to entertain both you and your kids. We even fit in a mom’s night out this season at a new restaurant. 

Two dinner dates. Managed to fit in two dinner dates with my husband, both at places with really good food. This is not easy at this stage of life, but I really enjoy it when we make it happen. 

Some Holiday Magic. I went light on the holiday festivities this year without much energy to back it up. But I still enjoyed some of our staples - getting the tree at our local tree farm, a solo trip to the creperie, decorating, making cookies (just one kind this year), a fiddle concert, and gingerbread houses. I can accept that not every holiday season will be the same. I remember going light the year I was pregnant with my third as well (and actually, I was in my first trimester - read: ill - for ALL three of my older kids, so I imagine those other holidays were light on festiveness as well).

So there is a brief update on the last 2.5 months. Overall, the months didn’t feel that great. But recording difficult times can be as rewarding as recording good times. For others going through a tough season, personally or professionally, its a nod to some human camaraderie to read you’re not alone. For yourself, reminding future you of a tricky time makes good seasons feel sweeter. Despite my current mood, I know a good season will come again. Admitting this wasn’t a good season will perhaps alleviate some burden while opening me up to welcome brighter times in the future. I am ready, universe! Send me some of those sweet months to savor! 

A focal point at a fall evening yoga class with live music