Hello September
Hello September!
August was divine!!! It really did feel like summer, the carefree-ness it held, the busyness and the whimsy. It felt like a long month. I lived many stories during this month. There were a lot of high highs and low lows, but it's one of those months that was jam packed with emotions, from elation and gratitude to heartbreak and hurt. It almost always felt like I was too busy to sit on any feeling for too long, which in itself is a blessing I guess. But experiencing so many juxtapositions and contrasting emotions added so much to my growth.
That being said, my favourite thing about this month was the way my husband celebrated my birthday. He showered me with love and care that made the whole world feel insignificant, like as long as I had him my world is okay regardless of everything else. Even though I've celebrated my birthday with more people in the past, amongst all 32 years of my birthdays, this was the one where I felt loved the most.
While this month has been a lot of moving to the next step, getting things done, capitalizing on my time and being productive, I do want to take this moment to reflect. I want to give everything the weight and consideration it warrants, and set my intentions for the coming months.
In August I:
Finished two books and am almost done with the third.
Wrote 21 blog posts!
Got flowers 4 times!
Worked out 11 times.
Had 4 pool days.
Had two weekend getaways in Lebanon.
Attended my first mixed wedding with my husband, and it was a blast.
Celebrated my birthday 3 times (with my husband's family early on, with my husband on the day of, and with my friends later on).
Purchased 2 really cute pairs of heels.
Did an artsy activity with my friends.
Had a staycation!
Completed 9/13 of my Invisalign sets.
Cleaned my bedroom at my parents' house!
Started collecting data!!!
Reconnected with a friend I haven't seen in a while <3
Reflecting on August, I had decided this would be the month of whimsy and busy fun filled days, and it felt like I was determined to do that the whole month (and I have), but I feel like I didn't really have a lot of pause-and-smell-the-roses moments. I also had a really difficult experience that deeply hurt me. I was upset about it, I cried, I talked about it to multiple of my loved ones, but I feel like within me I did not allow myself enough time to truly digest the emotion and heal. As much as the experience was difficult, it forced me to really reflect on my boundaries, and how often I let those boundaries get crossed. This is something I really want to work on.
What I'm leaving in August:
Allowing passive aggressive comments to go unaddressed
Spending time with people who make me feel unwanted
People pleasing
Rushing and doing too much
What I'm taking into September:
Adding whimsy to anything and everything
Spending more time with the people I love
Being disciplined at the gym
Reading more and writing more
Phone free mornings!! This was a big game changer.
What I want more of in September:
Focus on my connection with God, enrich it with daily rituals
Waking up early
Indulging in self care
Spending more quality time on my PhD
Enforcing my boundaries
Being intentional in who I spend my time with
Being present and connecting with people
Focus on the now and leave the rest to God
All in all, there's a lot of big things happening in September, and I have spent some time worrying about them, but I want to go into the month with a let go and let God attitude, and spend more time enjoying and living in the moment rather than being worried. Of course that's easier said than done, but that's my intention going into September. Being intentional, present, and of course grateful.
I also want to emphasize the theme of quality over quantity this month, in everything. I want to do more meaningful things than just do more things. I want to spend quality time with people, rather than just spend more time with people. Hopefully I report back with met goals!
P.S. I have a good feeling about September.
