NOVEMBER FOCUS

source :: the fresh exchange blog

well, halloween has officially come and gone and all of a sudden--boom! there are grand, ornate trees lining each row of every shop, a whole station dedicated to christmas music on the radio, and far too many items on our to-do lists. it really is such a wonderful time of year, wouldn't you agree? but hold the phone. aren't we all missing something? I don't mean to be rude, I love december as much as the next domestic goddess, but I know my favorite holiday was supposed to be crammed into the mix somewhere. that's right. it's finally november and that means american thanksgiving is right around the corner! it is, by far and away, the best holiday. so naturally, by extension, november is my favorite month. there is just something so wonderful about a month, a holiday dedicated to being grateful and getting along. 

every year, I am so thankful for that moment when the pilgrims and the natives sat down together to enjoy a feast as unlikely friends. I love to envision it over and over again in my mind. a rustic table decorated with the fruit of the season, every person contributing something, so many sacrifices being made all around. and the people. people who, even for a small moment, set aside their differences and broke bread together. there is something so magical about all of that. in this sometimes dark and confusing world, I wish we could recreate that first thanksgiving. it would be a very beautiful sight to behold.

now, fair warning :: I'm putting on my serious hat. 

coming up in november, I want to focus on gratitude. on sharing. on forgiveness and moving on. I woke up friday morning feeling sluggish and dissatisfied with various aspects of my life. I literally looked myself in the eye and said, "I can't live like this anymore." this isn't something I always care to admit. especially here. especially to you. but we're friends. we can speak freely and that's how I was feeling. I felt like somewhere along the way I had let my inner-child-self down. I had begun thinking so practically that I had casted out adventure and there is no other word for it, it really made me sad. so I put on my thinking cap and started working through it...

I started by setting goals. goals are good. but I'd heard that if you set too many at a time that you would set yourself up for failure. I scribbled and struck through so many lines on so many pages of my notebook that I was beginning to feel guilty for wasting trees. first, I got overwhelmed, but then I started putting my words together and came up with an idea. what if we could just wake up tomorrow as the person we wanted to be? the person who gets up right as the alarm goes off. the person who immediately heads for the gym. the person who eats more than candy corn for breakfast. the person who knows exactly how she wants to spend her day. the person who remains spiritual and cultured and witty and goes to bed exhausted every night. I wanted to be her and so I woke up the next morning and set to it.

I know november isn't the designated time for resolutions, but there probably shouldn't be just one month out of a year for change and goal-setting, anyway. and besides, I know I wouldn't be able to wait until january (there's that impatience again). honestly, I can't think of a better time to set goals for positive change than a month that focuses on gratitude and contribution and kindness. 

so if you've been feeling sluggish or dissatisfied or obnoxiously adult recently :: 

first, I want you to know you're not alone. I'm right there with you. as are so many others who may not necessarily write it down for the world to see or wear it on their sleeves. even if their life looks perfect, they may be struggling with something. 

second, I want you to know you can change overnight. it's all about our decisions, which are ultimately, the only thing in this life we can control. take your day to write it out wasting every scrap of paper in the house. then, wake up the next day and embody all that you have written down (and don't forget to recycle!). it seems impossible. but so did electricity and airplanes and ipads until someone took the time and invented them. take the time to invent yourself.

rant over. serious hat away.

so now that I've yacked your ear off, I'll leave you with my customary, yet sincere, wish that you will have a wonderful monday and a wonderful third day of november! you guys really are the best. thank you so much for reading this space.

love, arielle