Thankful Thursday: Lucky enough

Ah, yes, I remember that wall hanging in the keepers’ kitchen.

"If you are Lucky enough to Live in a LiGHTHOUSE 

You are Lucky Enough"

And we got to live in THIS very one! 

I love to look at the photos of this place from all the different angles, but this one is cool because it shows our bedroom windows right under the chimney.

Those two weeks were such a fun adventure! I'm grateful that we had the privilege of doing that.

I love to look back over the little snippets I wrote about our time there not as "keepers of the light" but as welcomers and hosts to the history of the place.

On this Thankful Thursday, I tear up a bit to think of my good fortune. 

May I never take such blessings for granted.

One Magic Moment

Once upon a time we worked at a lighthouse with a team of six people.

One evening Bob and I found ourselves alone in the keepers’ quarters.

Alone in the whole place and the whole lonely shoreline.

I was just reminded of that evening and of how tired we were from the day’s work.

But I was also reminded that I paid attention to the potential of a magic moment and pushed myself just enough to get down the stairs and out the door to the beach - yes, in my PJs.  What a glorious memory.

How many times do I miss magical moments?

Maybe I’m too busy

Too tired

Maybe I don’t even notice the idea

Nor pause to consider the possibility

So now, today, I am reminding myself to watch for such magic.

To pause and consider the moment - and what could maybe happen.

To provide space to welcome magic moments.

Photo credit: Bob Sims

You can read more about that PJ sunset here. 

September Challenge: Week Two Update

I turned the page from August to September with the idea of a September challenge.

I had been reminded of how effective a monthly challenge can be because of the relatively short time span. I also remember how significant September had become for me - almost thinking of it as my new year.

So I decided to challenge myself to bump up my daily walking - from my usual mile/day - to add another half-mile or maybe even more.

I am pleased to discover that I am doing well with that challenge - having walked 18 miles so far.

So yes, it’s working… 

And I am encouraged.

...

Somewhere in those transitional hours from August to September I also decided to set a writing challenge to augment my walking challenge.  

I had already been seeing my writing year as beginning in September - a time to rebuild my regular writing habits and to ponder my writing strategy for the coming months.

I chose as my main challenge to make sure that I am writing at least 300 words/day - for a minimum of 5 days/week or 20 days for the month.  So far I have succeeded every day of the first 11 days.

Early in the month I also pondered my wish of turning my monthly blogging habit into a weekly one. I decided to give it a try.  Sadly, I had begun to think I might not succeed with that one this week, but I guess I am. Right here. Right now. Taking that next step I am.

So there we go.

Small steps

Progress

Gratification

Writing Challenge

 September feels like a new beginning for me.

A fresh start.

Back to normal.

I have loved that September feeling for most of my life.

…

Since I started thinking of myself as a writer, it was probably natural that autumn would become significant in my annual writing cycle.

• In 2010 I started this blog and have posted something here pretty much every month in the years since.
• That was also the year that I began participating in NaNoWriMo - and have completed that project 17 times. 
• I soon realized that I might want to start thinking about my November writing project as early as September.
• I have built some excellent writing habits through these 17 years.

So here we are - and here I am.

It is September and time to start my writing year.

Time to get back in gear.

To rebuild my writing habit.

To stretch those writing muscles.

I hereby declare my September writing plan.

This month…

• I will pay attention to that habit of writing at least 300 words/day.  
• I also wish to bump up my posting frequency here - aiming for weekly posts.  I am putting that back into my reminder calendar at this very moment.

And so, my writing friends, do you have a September writing plan?

Could you use a fresh start?

My only advice is to keep it simple and do-able.

Happy September new year!