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Welcome to a new year! Well, almost - one day to go. Tomorrow begins a new year in many ways with June's conclusion and July's beginning. Why? Perhaps because for so long I worked as teacher, the academic calendar as well as the fiscal calendar ran on the July - June model, and as July began, a school year had concluded and two months of rejuvenation had begun. Fast-forward to being retired from teaching and now focusing all my energy and attention on TSLL and even though nothing technically ends with June's conclusion, there is a refreshing reset that occurs with July's beginning.

After all, the world in many respects - economic, academic as well as many other entities - wraps things up with June and things feel a bit slower, a bit less reliant on expecting any particular behavior except to design the summer months as we need them to be to begin fresh in the fall. As opposed to the end of December and the start of January when so many expectations fill the figurative air, and after coming down emotionally from the holiday season, our minds and emotions are a bit taxed. So it is with intention and enjoyment that I savor this 'new year' and take as best advantage of it as I can.

What I have begun to do, as I did this past weekend, is reset and reassess. From setting up a new planner (this is the brand and style I use), to taking a breath as French classes just concluded until the fall, to looking at the next two months and asking myself what will recharge me as well as leave me feeling rejuvenated when September arrives? But at the core of it all is asking myself (and then answering honestly) what are my primary objectives and what has worked so far and what has become a distraction from said objectives? Have a strayed off course? Am I am making progress?

Since the world feels as though it is slowing down, I don't feel rushed to find the answers, and I can be very honest with myself as I give myself time to reflect. Did I stray off course from the objectives set either six months ago with the calendar new year or last year (if they haven't been met yet)? What pulled me off course? How can I get back on track and keep my focus in order to be successful?

Summer is certainly not a slow period for TSLL as I have two, actually three if you include the upcoming Annual French Week preparations (2nd full week in August) projects that will hold my focus (the other two being Season 6 of the cooking and the creation of online video Masterclass courses - coming in 2024!), but my schedule is my own as I am not traveling this summer nor am I enrolled in French classes. Finding a rhythm that enables quality work along with rest as well as enjoyment of what summer offers in Bend is my focus which makes the official new year in January a bit more celebratory as I am likely to have achieved my goals as I had hoped, or come oh so close and am about to arrive at where I want to be. 

With ample time outside in Mother Nature whether simply in my garden, taking daily walks or savoring the longer evenings and earlier mornings outside, clarity and calm seem to arrive more effortlessly, and I begin to either get myself back on track or really habituate soundly good habits that bring me ever closer to my desired objectives. 

Whether you begin your new year tomorrow, on January 1st, on your birthday, on all three or on a unique and unexpected day of the year, why not take the time to reflect on all that you have done well, and course correct where is necessary. If done regularly, the corrections will be minor and your appreciation will be deepened as you acknowledge how wonderful your journey is unfolding.

Wishing you a wonderful start to the new season of summer/winter and thank you for choosing to subscribe to the monthly newsletter. Below you will find all of the many posts shared on the blog during this past June, along with one of the most enjoyed and commented upon podcast episodes with a guest I feel so fortunate to have had on the show. Until the final day in July (Monday), the 31st, I will see you on the blog!

—Shannon

~To explore every post you wish to read, be sure to become a member to one of the two tiers - BASIC or TOP as non-members can only read five non-exclusive posts a month (it will reset on the first of each month - tomorrow!).